Andrew Beyer

was quite impressed with Curlin's Preakness victory yesterday.

The colt began to gain ground, stride by stride, and Street Sense -- who had finished so powerfully to win the Derby -- couldn't offer resistance. Racing fans may debate whether this was all Curlin's doing, or whether Street Sense lacks a killer instinct in such situations, but the two combatants hit the wire almost simultaneously. The finish was so close that television viewers couldn't tell who won, but Borel knew. He turned to his friend Albarado and said, "You got me!" and Albarado raised his whip in triumph.

This would have been an amazing performance for a veteran racehorse -- let alone one whose racing career began only 3 1/2 months ago. Curlin's maiden win was so smashing that a partnership, harboring Kentucky Derby dreams, paid $3.5 million to acquire him. Curlin ran away with his next two starts and went into the Derby with much acclaim. But everybody knew the history he was trying to overcome. No horse with fewer than five career starts had won the Derby since 1918. No horse without 2-year-old experience had won it since 1882. Despite these competitive disadvantages, and despite being blocked in the run to the first turn, Curlin managed to rally and finish third.