Street Sense skipping Belmont Stakes
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/belmont/2007-05-31-street-sense_N.htm?csp=34
LOUISVILLE (AP) — The competitor in Carl Nafzger wanted to send Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense to the Belmont Stakes for a rematch with Preakness winner Curlin.
The trainer in him argued otherwise.
After spending two hours debating with owner James Tafel over the viability of sending the colt to New York for the final leg of the Triple Crown, the trainer in Nafzger won.
Street Sense will skip the Belmont so Nafzger can point the colt toward the Travers Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic later this year.
"The competitive side said 'Go,' the logical side said 'No, no, no,"' Nafzger said.
Nafzger said Street Sense was certainly healthy enough to tackle the 1½-mile Belmont. But when the dreams of a Triple Crown evaporated in the final yards of the Preakness two weeks ago, Tafel decided to try and take another route to history.
"Mr. Tafel said let's not chase spilled water," Nafzger said. "We spilled our water during the Preakness. We got beat. We got outran."
Street Sense and jockey Calvin Borel appeared headed to the Belmont hoping to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he took the lead deep in the stretch at the Preakness. Curlin and jockey Robby Albarado, however, mounted a late charge to slip by at the wire.
Tafel said there's still plenty of opportunities for Street Sense to make his mark. The colt could become the first horse to win the Derby, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Travers and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Travers is Aug. 25 at Saratoga. The Breeders' Cup Classic is Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.
Nafzger said there was a concern that Street Sense wouldn't have time to get properly prepared for the Travers if he ran the Belmont. The horse will be able to rest and compete in one or two races between now and the Travers, including possibly the Jim Dandy.
"I know there's disappointment we're not going to the Belmont," Nafzger said. "But somewhere we want to make another stand."
Steve Asmussen, Curlin's trainer, said he was preparing for another duel with Street Sense, but said the small field still remains challenging.
"I was fully prepared to run against him as well as Hard Spun and I just, with him being as good a horse as he is, I think I'd rather meet him at Belmont than anywhere else," Asmussen said. "If Carl thought he belonged there, he would have shown up."
Hard Spun trainer Larry Jones said not having Street Sense to worry about means jockey Garrett Gomez, who will replace regular rider Mario Pino for the Belmont, won't have to hug the rail so much during the race. In both the Derby and the Preakness, Street Sense jockey Calvin Borel ran hard on the inside before jumping wide in the stretch to take the lead.
"I thought it was very kind of Carl to take it easy on us," Jones joked. "I hate it for him ... (but) I can do it without him."
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