Street Sense: Belmont Stakes Decision Thursday

[Toccet02]

GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Curlin was still unraced in January and Street Sense is the one that needs the time off? Street Sense was babied for six months after the BC Juvie and two races in the TC necessitate a rest? Nafzger is wisely ducking Curlin and that's all there is to it.

Unbridled won the Derby and was second in the Preakness...Nafzger still ran him in the Belmont. OK, he ran 4th, but the race didn't keep him from winning the BC Classic from Post 14 that fall, did it?

Thanks Rokeby...I was going to post just about exactly that, but ya did it for me.
Infuriating. A Real champ just might try all 3 TC races, the Travers AND the Breeders Cup. Than he'd be so worth breeding to that no one could afford it. Oh this sport. Drives me nuts lately.

[amanda1]

Although SS came out of both races OK, I think that he is not the soundest horse around. A friend of mine was in the same barn as SS early in his 2 y/o year and while he never came right out and said the horse was lame, he did say he "just wasn't right" off and on. I think that his connections are trying to manage him VERY carefully.....and I respect that.

[Sam]

As far as Horse of the Year is concerned - it's going to come down to the Breeder's Cup and every race in between. And it will probably be Invasor.

Who's talking about horse of the year? Nothing I said pertained to HOY -- I was strictly focused on the 3yo title.

Seriously, I'm laughing my ass off at everyone of you claiming SS's connections are 'afraid' of Curlin. I'm seeing the exact opposite. Tafel and Nafzinger know how important it is to win two legs of the TC to clinch division honors. This move tells me they don't think Curlin can pull it off so why bother running themselves? Give themselves a nice long break and run fresh in the fall. Have they said whether they will train up to the Travers or is there going to be a prep in the Jim Dandy?

I can't say I would or wouldn't have run, but if I were in their position, I might consider skipping the race. MIGHT. I do actually like the Belmont the most and I'd be more inclined to lock up division honors for myself -- they may believe neither horse can win right now so they may as well stay home.

Honestly guys, all this "oh this is so unsportsmanlike" gnashing of teeth makes you sound like a bunch of pissy, whiny babies crying because you had your favourite toy taken away.

So they horses aren't going to meet in the Belmont ... do you really think they are going to duck each other all year? At this point, if ANYONE ducks, it'll be Curlin. We KNOW where SS is going to show up next -- and it's not going to be in some pissant meaningless race -- it's up to Curlin's connects to decide if they want to face him again or duck out.

[wilf]

Man you guys are brutal ............ being a Hard Spun... Street Sense and Curlin fan I am sorry that they will not duke it out in the Belmont as it would have been a fascinating renewal, however as a trainer I cannot fault a guy that has produced the ONLY HORSE EVER to win the Juvenile and Derby. His management of SS has been exemplary and if he is not running then I suspect that all may not be well. Without a doubt SS has a world class turn of foot when called upon, if he were held up until very late then possibly he could see out the Belmont trip but I just want to see him at the Breeder's Cup, that's the day that really matters! If SS had got to the wire a nose before Curlin instead of losing concentration then we would be crowning Nafzger the next president < what have we got to lose?>. For the record these three still don't come close to the first two home in the Dubai World Cup but the next 5 months could turn everything on it's head. I can't wait!

[Toccet02]

do you really think they are going to duck each other all year?

Except for the Derby and the Breeder's Cup where they really can't, yeah, my impression is exactly that. Major horses seem to have trainers that look for the softest spots each time, and I've specifically heard them on many occasions say they'd rather avoid this or that competitor.

I guess in moderation it's a sound decision...but it happens too much. So yeah, I'll "whine" all I want that it's unsportsmanlike, because it is! IMHO

[horsenuts]

Man you guys are brutal ............ being a Hard Spun... Street Sense and Curlin fan I am sorry that they will not duke it out in the Belmont as it would have been a fascinating renewal, however as a trainer I cannot fault a guy that has produced the ONLY HORSE EVER to win the Juvenile and Derby. His management of SS has been exemplary and if he is not running then I suspect that all may not be well. Without a doubt SS has a world class turn of foot when called upon, if he were held up until very late then possibly he could see out the Belmont trip but I just want to see him at the Breeder's Cup, that's the day that really matters! If SS had got to the wire a nose before Curlin instead of losing concentration then we would be crowning Nafzger the next president < what have we got to lose?>. For the record these three still don't come close to the first two home in the Dubai World Cup but the next 5 months could turn everything on it's head. I can't wait!

Nafzger's managing of SS has been very good but SS is a "horse for the course" regarding CD and had FAR more to do with him winning the BCJ and KD then anything else.


The horse was good enough to go out and breeze two days ago and the Belmont is 8 days from now. No reason this horse should not run in one of the 3 BIGGEST races for 3 year olds. They are called "Classics" for a reason. I find nothing admirable in the decision nor any compelling reason for not running. In fact "gutless" best describes it better then anything. There is over two-and-a-half months between the Belmont and Travers.... just "how much time" does these horses need between races?


Horseracing has fallen off a cliff for many reasons one being animals handled such as this that completely turn fans off. And will anyone be surprised if SS never runs again? Of course not.


Again, Kudos to Steve Assmussen as well as Larry Jones for knowing what horseracing revolves around and is all about. I can remember when trainers would get down on their bellies and crawl from coast to coast just for a shot to run in such a race. You racing fans have been sold a bill of goods by Nafzger and Co. but I for one am not buying.

[bdw0617]

nothing is going to change until people who breed make a concious effort NOT to bred to these featherweight horses... not that it's their fault... but I wuld have to give credence to horses that have shown some sort of durability.


If your horse is honestly injuried, than I can undrestand, and would do the same. If you are in a financial stranglehold and need the cash... I'm not giving it to you.. I can undrestand... but just pure and simle greed.. it's not like you AREN'T going to get the money... it's not like you aren't going to make anything over the next year... Street Sense would make at least a cool 2 mil, without going to Dubai next year if he decided to run.

[FOS]

hi horsenuts...hi guys

Steve Haskins was and is EXACTLY right calling Nafzger out with his off-handed remarks about "why" regarding running in the Belmont.

Seems to me that Nafzger tried to put his best spin on his/Tafel's decision to skip the Belmont, but his best was apparently not good enough. Furthermore, arguably his comments/spin did NOT sit well with some (if not many) including Haskins. Nafzger is taking the heat for his comments (and decision), but I still don't expect him to specifically say what I believe that he believes is the reality...that he doesn't like Street Senses's chances (in the Belmont), and might actually be concerned that the colt could throw in a stinker (going a mile and a half). The result...Nafzger/Tafel will take a pass on the Belmont.

Seems (to me anyway) that Nafzger's attempt to spin/downplay (whatever) the defection of Street Sense (from the Belmont) has all but backfired, and might have actually affected (in the wrong way) the perception (by some) of his colt.

I had my doubts before...but Nafzger (as a result of his comments, attempt at spin etc) is convincing me that Street Sense is NOT good enough to win the Belmont.

Regardless...horsenuts, if I may ask, would you run your 2-yo Champion and Kentucky Derby winner in the Belmont (after losing by a slim margin in the Preakness) if you didn't have the confidence that he could win, coupled with a sense that he might be soundly defeated (and possibly embarrased) to boot?

Just an opinion...but I sense that Nafzger feels that way (about SS)...so why risk it?

But KUDOS to Steve Assmussen and the Curlin camp WHO KNOW what horseracings great traditions truly are (thank goodness there's still some appreciation for American racing's ultimate achievement, the TC races).

I might tip my hat...but won't offer a whole lot more than that. With that in mind...I would suggest that if Team Curlin felt the same about their colt's chances (and had concerns of possible embarrassment) in the Belmont that I sense Team Street Sense feels about their colt...it would not surprise me if they too might announce that they'd be skipping the race. An indicator (that that might be the case) could be (although certainly it was a different situation) Satish Sanan's (one of Curlin's owners) arguably conservative decision (also questioned by some) to NOT try/test (even once) his undefeated 2-yo eclipse winner Vindication, as a three-year-old. Yes, Vindication reportedly had an issue and was sidelined (after his four starts as a two-year-old) but reports were (week after week and month after month) that the colt would be fine (to race) and would run at three.

When it got down to the real nitty gritty though...seems that Sanan disseminated his brand of spin. The spin sounded (to me anyway) like Sanan simply didn't want to take the chance that his colt might get beat. If he did (get beat) his marketers would no longer be able to boast that the colt retired undefeated (allbeit 4 wins from 4 starts).

I would argue that Sanan did what he felt was in his best interest. Certainly he was entitled, after all, it was his colt...his valuable racehorse/asset to manage as he saw fit. Is that really a whole lot different than Nafzger/Tafel doing what they believe is in their best interest (that being, skip the Belmont).

All that aside...I am confident that Team Curlin (including Sanan) believes that their colt is certainly good enough to win the Belmont. I also sense that Team Curlin is EXTREMELY confident that (whether he wins it or not) Curlin will NOT throw in a stinker.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[HR LLC]

TVG is reporting that the breeding rights to SS have been sold to Darley. No surprise there with all the oil money flowing.

[bdw0617]

over under on days until they announce his retirement?

I will go 60

[HR LLC]

I say under 60 days...

[Sam]

over under on days until they announce his retirement?

I will go 60

Depends on what happens in the Belmont, but I'll go with over. I might think otherwise if Darley'd bought the colt outright. I'm still smarting over that move to retire Bernardini last year to ever give Darley the benefit of the doubt again. 60 days is still before the Travers. They're thinking/hoping Curlin loses the Belmont and they can still make a case for CH. honors. Figure Curlin loses the Belmont, Street Sense wins the Travers -- SS may skip the Classic figuring Curlin has no chance against the older horses(where the hell is Invasor, anyway?).

[bdw0617]

I think the only reason he didn't buy the colt outright is for media relations (tefel)


with that said.. is there really a difference? Yes while he is racing tefel gets the money, but I am sure Darley can call him to stand whenever they please.


however, it' snot like we didn't smell this one a mile away

[geowarrior]

There were two things that Nafzger said throughout this whole campaign that have stuck with me. One good and one bad.

The first was something like 'if you can't be thrilled watching your 5k claimer give 110 percent in a race, you shouldn't be in racing'. That was something that suggested to me that he thought of 5k claimers as horses rather than commodities. Good.

Then he said re. the Belmont (and this was directly after the Preakness) 'what's the point?' Which I took to mean, we're not interested in competing against the best horses, we're just interested in the T.C. and now that it's out of the question we won't bother. Not that Street Sense was hurt or tired or anything else - just 'what's the point?' I don't believe from the minute the Preakness was over that Street Sense was ever being considered for the Belmont. All the galloping and breezing and ballyhoo was just a smokescreen to try to convince people that they thought hard but decided it wasn't the best thing for the horse. So I suppose my feeling is Nafzger cares about the horses but doesn't realize some of the things that are important for the sport.

Actually I'm sure nobody will agree with me but I think the Belmont is or should be the most important race of the year. It's the only race now that can demonstrate that you Americans can produce class horses that will display stamina on your beloved dirt surface. If you stop believing in the Belmont, you're that much closer to the TB becoming the Quarter Horse.

You might have expected Hard Spun to bow out after his Derby and Preakness for several reasons - but no, his connections want another shot. Curlin's connections have worries about some of the other horses but they're going to go for it - their attitude being with a horse like this you have to. They're all worried about Tiago - they know how good he might be at the distance, and everyone realizes that he might have learned just as much from the Derby as Curlin did. The trainer of Slew's Tizzy passed on the Derby and the Preakness for the sake of the horse, and if I understood the trainer correctly (Jeanine Edwards cut off what he was saying in an interview so I only got part of it), his biggest worry was the really scary accident that Slew's Tizzy and James Graham had in the Risen Star, so it was all about bringing him back slowly. As for Imawildandcrazyguy - we all threw him out in the Derby and criticised his trainer, but the horse ran a hell of a race (and he ran so wide he practically ran the Belmont distance). Kaplan thinks Curlin is wonderful, doesn't think he can beat him realistically, but hey he has a horse that he thinks is made for the Belmont so he's competing anyway.

This is a short field but every horse in it has a chance and their connections should all be congratulated for their sportsmanship, their attentions to their horses and let's hope for an exciting safe race that will show off the talents of these great competitors. And with Curlin and Hard Spun staying in, maybe we might get just a little benefit for the sport at large.

I should say I have nothing at all against Street Sense, I think he's a great horse, but with things developing the way they are, it's going to be a Bernardini situation - we'll never know how great he could have been.

[Barbaro06]

I will say they will retire him after the Classic, no matter if Street Sense wins or loses.