Curlin-handled obstacles well today
 

Curlin was out of position right from the start. He was the horse i had my eye on in the gate. I thought his lack of experience could hurt him here. 10 yards out of the gate Zanjero had already come over and blocked him from getting a decent position. This forced Curlin to be much farther back in the field than he usually is. I thought he ran very well considering the hand he was dealt.

Not hard to figure this was going to happen. It is hard to get racing experience without actually racing

I don't blame the horse here. Watch the overhead replay. Albarado's ride was one for the ages as how to lose a race. He was playing pinball with the horse. Curlin was motoring well and Albarado runs him into a wall of horses and lets SS slide right by on the rail. Out of 19 other horses Albarado probably bumped into half of them.

Switch jocks and Curlin wins and Street Sense loses. Curlin could have went right up the rail if you watch the overhead.

Borel rode a great race. So did JuLep.

Albarado choked. Shocking. His ride on Einstein was not exactly textbook either.

He ran better than I thought, but a DISTANT NON-THREATNING 3RD and cost me...should make his presence felt in two weeks.

Me too, I singled Einstein and used Street Sense and Nobiz (sucker that I am) ... Einsteins' complete lack of competitiveness in that race was really surprising. His trip was far better than he had in his last win at FG.

As soon as he got covered the race was over for him. Thought he ran excellent

Nice run by Curlin. He ran much better than I expected.

He's going to be very good. No shame in finishing 3rd in your 4th race with a 20 horse field of the best group a crop can offer.

I thought Albarado was working against any chance Curlin might have had. If there was trouble, Robbie found it.

Didn't Steve post a mid-afternoon alert about a possible rail bias. I immediaiately thought of Bo-rail and wished I could get back to the OTB.

Robbie had the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the rail. Sure, Curlin was far back. But so was SS. Robbie could have dominated the rail if he wished, but I clearly saw him steer Curlin over toward the middle....and a wall of horses.

It was almost too frustrating to watch.

Sometimes the best plan is no plan at all... I need to watch the replay again, was Curlin really in a position to take the rail?

I don't see how it was a lack of experience that did Curlin in. He could have had 25 races under his belt and it still wouldn't have mattered with the start and position he had in the race. Those were factors that have nothing to do with experience.

I thought the same for Zanjero... except Zanjero would've been runnig for 3rd regardless. Zanjero was ahead of SS the whole Race on the rail, and then Bridgemohan took Zanjero off the rail into the 2 or 3 path. Zanjero runs into a wall of horses and checks, while SS blows right on by on the rail. But I don't think Zanjero finishes any better than 3rd even if he stays on the rail and gets through.

I have to say that Curlin ran better than I thought he would. He wasnt gonna get Street. He will be tough come Preakness day. I think the Preakness will be the toughest for Street.

Maybe he would have started better and maybe he would have got into a better position if it wasn't the FIRST TIME he ever was in behind horses?

Albarado blew the ride here. This is a very good racehorse, I hope he goes in the Preakness, without 20 horses, he will be very tough.

I couldn't agree more. The Preakness will be a tough test for Street Sense. Any idea of the spoilers that sat out the Derby? I don't see Xchanger making a big impact, nor do I see Chelokee or Cobalt Blue...

ALostTexan

I could swear he was behind horses in the Arkansas Derby. Maybe I'm wrong. Just watched the videos again. In the Rebel, he was back in fifth although he was on the outside. In the Arkansas Derby, he was in second but he was down on the rail, inside of the leader. I just don't feel like more experience would have helped him here. It wouldn't necessarily make him break faster nor would it make him faster early and able to get better position. Those are matters of ability, IMO, not experience.

curlin ran great. he'll get better. the long stretch at belmont may be a bigger obstacle than the preakness for street sense. street sense is really quite fast when he turns it on. the shorter preakness should be perfect for him. if he moves too soon in the belmont, we could be watching a smarty jones type finish again where he gets reeled in late.