Street Sense: Belmont Stakes Decision Thursday

[TJ]

Below is the DRF article concerning Street Sense' first work (this AM) since the Preakness. Off that work, there is no reason not to run back in the Belmont. What are your thoughts, will he or won't he? TJ

Triple Crown | Posted 5/30/2007, 10:36 am

Street Sense breezes; Belmont decision Thursday
By MARTY McGEE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense had his first workout since finishing second in the May 19 Preakness when breezing an easy half-mile at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning in 49 seconds under regular rider Calvin Borel.

Trainer Carl Nafzger said after the work that he would relate his impressions of the work to Street Sense’s breeder-owner, Jim Tafel, who in turn will make the final decision about whether the colt will run in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the June 9 Belmont Stakes in New York. A media conference to announce that decision has been scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Eastern at Churchill.

Over a fast track, Street Sense proceeded smoothly through splits of 12.80, 24.60, and 36.60 before hitting the wire in 49 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.80.

"Carl has him on the right track," Borel said afterward.

* Earlier Wednesday, Curlin, the Preakness winner and a definite Belmont starter, galloped a mile in his first day back on the track since a Monday breeze in which he went five furlongs in 1:03.20.

[bdw0617]

I think they go.


I didn't think that CN and Tefel thought they were going to get this type of backlash for even thinking of NOT going.

of course, if the horse is unsound, you don't run him and there is no debate at all.


but if he is carrying his weight and is fit and ready to run, you do what he wants to do.


HOWEVER.... the Travers steaks is more important from a breeding standpoing than the Belmont historicly... look at Belmont winners versus Travers winners... The Travers is a race I would definatly want to be up for

[Sam]

They're holding a press conference to announce whether or not they go?

They're going. They know if Curlin wins, they've pretty much lost a shot at 3yo CH. If Curlin weren't a definite, I doubt they'd even bother making a big deal (by calling a press conference) out of announcing their intentions.

Should be a hell of a race.

[bdw0617]

the father they go, the more I like Tiago and Curlin.

Tiago scares the crap out of me.. well not really SCARES, it's not like I own Curlin or anything.... That damn thing can run all day

[geowarrior]

Tiago for me too at this distance.

[Sam]

Loyalty says Street Sense since I've liked him since that Blue Grass (odd that I saw more in a losing performance like the BG than his win in the Juvy).

I'm watching Hard Spun... closely.

[geowarrior]

I don't think Imawildandcrazyguy is going to lie down and die either, he surely didn't give up in the Derby when he was running 11 wide.

[bdw0617]

jerkins wouldn't happen to be training anything pointed torwards this race? just making sure

[geowarrior]

Well I suppose there's always room for a last minute entry from Olympic Chief. He's probably come on a lot since he came 27 lengths behind Hard Spun in the Arkansas Derby.

[horsenuts]

Below is the DRF article concerning Street Sense' first work (this AM) since the Preakness. Off that work, there is no reason not to run back in the Belmont. What are your thoughts, will he or won't he? TJ

Triple Crown | Posted 5/30/2007, 10:36 am

Street Sense breezes; Belmont decision Thursday
By MARTY McGEE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense had his first workout since finishing second in the May 19 Preakness when breezing an easy half-mile at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning in 49 seconds under regular rider Calvin Borel.

Trainer Carl Nafzger said after the work that he would relate his impressions of the work to Street Sense’s breeder-owner, Jim Tafel, who in turn will make the final decision about whether the colt will run in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the June 9 Belmont Stakes in New York. A media conference to announce that decision has been scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Eastern at Churchill.

Over a fast track, Street Sense proceeded smoothly through splits of 12.80, 24.60, and 36.60 before hitting the wire in 49 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.80.

"Carl has him on the right track," Borel said afterward.

* Earlier Wednesday, Curlin, the Preakness winner and a definite Belmont starter, galloped a mile in his first day back on the track since a Monday breeze in which he went five furlongs in 1:03.20.

Jim Tafel is 84... now how many more times is he going to pass this way? Pathetic that Nafzger was set on NOT RUNNING. In my lifetime I've watched two sports I love descend into hell, horse racing and boxing. It's just hard deciding which has descended farther and faster. Neither has a modicum of sportsmenship or rivalry left. Street Sense looking to opt out was just the latest example.



I can remember when horse went looking for each other i.e Swaps and Nashua.... Secretariat and Sham... Affirmed and Alydar.... Easy Goer and Sunday Silence........... but not anymore. Racing has become a game of "duck and hide". Pitiful

[bdw0617]

Well I suppose there's always room for a last minute entry from Olympic Chief. He's probably come on a lot since he came 27 lengths behind Curlin in the Arkansas Derby.

fixed it for you.. hey, he was in it the first half of the race, then he just caught a cab.

I guess it was their dream to be in a greaded race... they got their wish at the detriment of the horse

[bdw0617]

I can remember when horse went looking for each other i.e Swaps and Nashua.... Secretariat and Sham... Affirmed and Alydar.... Easy Goer and Sunday Silence........... but not anymore. Racing has become a game of "duck and hide". Pitiful

lol, just like boxing.

I watch boxing as well.. actually know jermain taylor, we are from the same part of little rock and have mutual friends.. however I hate him as a boxer (although I wouldn't tell him that to his face, has a temper).. i've never seen someone try his best NOT to fight in a ring.

when I watch boxing, I want to see a slugfest. i went to see punches thrown between two good fighters.

when i watch horse racing, I want to see the speed deamons battling it out, seeing if one can cast off the other, and hold off the cavarly charge that is looming... not horses plodding around in a mintue for a half mile and 15 to 1 shots winning a grade 1 (sound familar)

more importantly, i want to see a good horse race. It's like the more money the race is for, the easier pickins it can be. At this rate Curlin might be the only starter.

You know what we REALLY need in horse racing? An owner that was outspoken and charasmatic like Mr. howard was with Seabiscuit. Remember Mr. Riddle was playing CN now... and I see why, just like he said, he had nothing to gain by beating seabiscuit.. he was supposed to.

only now, there are many, including myself, that think that curlin is actually a better horse.


Why are people so afraid to loose a freakin horse race? I would think more of Street Sense if he came in 3rd in the belmont than if he didn't run. I don't expect you to win all your races.. horses are like humans.. they have good and bad days. But I do expect you to go and fight.
he, they needs to be called out.

[Kari]

I'm glad Tiago's coming back, too. Hopefully he doesn't disappoint.

[geowarrior]

I was disappointed in Nafzger when he was quoted as saying 'what's the point?' in going to the Belmont after losing the Preakness. If the horse is fit that's a very unsporting comment. The DRF and the Bloodhorse used to always be saying that such and such an owner was 'sporting' not to duck huge weights, and I was always a bit worried about that because of the possibility of injury to the horse. But here Street Sense seems fine and the other trainers considering the Belmont a) all seem to be concerned about the welfare of the horses and b) all seem to be in it for a sporting competition (and Horse of the Year, of course, but that's a competition). Street Sense can't rest on his laurels because of the Derby and the fact that he completed the juvenile/Derby double doesn't count in my opinion as a wholly 2007 achievement.

I think he'll have to go. I wouldn't fancy having to give a press conference saying he won't go. It might degenerate into a manure tossing contest.

[TJ]

Street Sense will pass the Belmont Stakes :>(