Street defeat ruins Triple dream

Curlin (left) just got his nose in front on the line

Street Sense's US Triple Crown hopes were dashed in the final strides of the Preakness Stakes as Curlin got up to pip the Kentucky Derby winner.

Street Sense looked set to clinch the second leg of the Triple Crown when he stormed through to take the lead on the home straight of the Baltimore track.

But Robby Albarado timed his run to perfection on Curlin, who was running in just the fifth race of his career.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun was third of the nine competitors.

Curlin's third place in Kentucky was the first defeat of his career but he got back to winning ways in style in the $1m Preakness despite stumbling as he came out of the stalls.

"My whole focus was to get him away from the gate in order," said Albarado. "And the first thing he does is stumble.

"From that point on, you go to plan B and just try to keep him in the race within himself.

"He's immature still but he has talent and he displayed it late in the race. I knew I had it at the wire."

Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger described the defeat as "heart-breaking".

The US Triple Crown has not been won since Affirmed won all three legs back in 1978.

The final leg is the Belmont Stakes on 9 June.