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Triple Crown Archive

Belmont Possible for Rags

Curlin and Hard Spun are in for sure, Carl Nafzger is now saying Street Sense is possible (although still looking unlikely), and Todd Pletcher is dangling the tantalizing possibility that Rags to Riches will show up:

“I would say we’re sitting right on the middle of the fence,” Pletcher said in his barn office. “We’re going to monitor two things basically, how she trains and who shows up, then make a decision.” (DRF)

Rags to Riches has won three grade one events this year; if there’s a filly out there capable of taking on Curlin, she’s it.

Posted in Triple Crown on May 22, 2007

Preakness Wrap-up

– Curlin’s Preakness Beyer came back as 111, a big number for the colt, who mounted a “stunning, brilliant” (WaPo) stretch assault on Street Sense after the Derby winner blew by him at the top of the lane. “Curlin just has this way about him, the last part of the race he wants to win,” said jockey Robby Albarado (NY Times). Street Sense duplicated his Kentucky Derby effort, but lost focus near the end, losing to Curlin by a head. “He just got to gawking 40 yards from home and he just got outrun,” said Calvin Borel (NY Post).
– Don’t bet on Street Sense starting in the Belmont, said trainer Carl Nafzger. “What’s the point?” (Blood-Horse).
– Third place finisher Hard Spun is still being considered for the race though. “We came into the Triple Crown thinking we were going to go to all three races,” said trainer Larry Jones. “Hard Spun’s mother was a stakes winner at a mile-and-a-half. There’s no reason to think he can’t do it because he sure won’t have to run this fast early next time” (NY Post). Let me admit now that I was wrong about this colt — I thought he’d finish much further back, after his big effort in the Derby, but Hard Spun ran another good race and hung on gamely at the end, despite that too early move at the half. I’ll respect him much more in three weeks.
– And the second guessing begins: “Mario Pino, who rode Hard Spun to a third-place finish in the Preakness, and Calvin Borel, on runner-up Street Sense, both made moves in the heat of battle that may have affected the outcome” (MSNBC).
– Also on Saturday: An obviously emotional Michael Matz was in the Pimlico winner’s circle accepting a trophy from Roy and Gretchen Jackson after Chelokee won the first running of the Barbaro Stakes (DRF).

Posted in Triple Crown on May 20, 2007

Preakness Day

It’s a picture perfect day in Baltimore; the Pimlico track is fast, the turf firm, and speed is holding. Results are chalky through the eighth race (in which Diabolical almost set a new track record winning the Maryland Breeders’ Cup Sprint); jockeys Ramon Dominguez, Rafael Bejarano, and Mario Pino have won two each so far. Street Sense is 7-5 in the early Preakness wagering, Curlin the second choice at 3-1.
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Rain! And suddenly, Hard Spun is tempting with 4-1 odds. Less than 20 minutes to post and I’m reconsidering my wagering plan …
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And the winner is … Curlin, by a short head over Street Sense. There’ll be no Triple Crown this year.

Posted in Triple Crown on May 19, 2007

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