Street Sense to skip Belmont

[tycharles01]

So who might be pointed to the Belmont since SS is out??


Rags?
Sedgefield??

[justindew]

I'm not even holding Street Sense to the same standard as Medaglia D' Oro. And I didn't use War Emblem or Funny Cide in my argument becasue they did nothing in the BC Classic. I used Louis Quatorze because he darn near won the BC Classic and the Travers, and becuase he isn't exactly regarded as one of the top 25 horses in the last 10 years or so. Although I really liked him.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by tycharles01

So who might be pointed to the Belmont since SS is out??


Rags?
Sedgefield??

Rags- likely not running, as per Pletcher
Sedgefield- injured, out for about 6 months

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Looks like Nafzger didn't want to make the same mistake twice (Unbridled)

Good for him.

Pillow- Unbridled was a notorious bleeder and in '90 you couldn't run on Lasix in NY, and apparently he bled badly in the Belmont June heat. Not saying it's the wrong decision to hold him out if he doesn't think he's ready to roll but I don't think his Unbridled experience had much to do with it.

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by tycharles01

So who might be pointed to the Belmont since SS is out??


Rags?
Sedgefield??

I'd like to see both of these go to make it more interesting.

And I'm not pissed about Street Sense skipping it.
I'd much rather see the Kentucky Derby winner run in the Breeders Cup Classic (going the same distance he won the derby), than running him back in the Belmont going 12F. There's no triple crown on the line and there's a real possibility he wouldn't be back to race in the fall.

[slotdirt]

I'd rather see the Derby winner in the Belmont - a far more historically significant race - than the Breeders Cup.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'd rather see the Derby winner in the Belmont - a far more historically significant race - than the Breeders Cup.

I agree. . . This is where the best three year olds are supposed to run. . . Street Sense has a much better chance to win the Belmont than he does the BC Classic with EEnvAsor so I don't understand why they wouldn't run him. . .

Originally Posted by philcski

Pillow- Unbridled was a notorious bleeder and in '90 you couldn't run on Lasix in NY, and apparently he bled badly in the Belmont June heat. Not saying it's the wrong decision to hold him out if he doesn't think he's ready to roll but I don't think his Unbridled experience had much to do with it.

I'm just going by coincidence. Street Sense and Unbridled have the same record in Triple Crown races. Following that logic, Street Sense's chances weren't great in the Belmont.

Regardless i'm not upset over this decision. Street Sense was trained this year with the Derby as the priority.

If people want these horses to run, maybe an outcry for larger purses should be in order.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

If people want these horses to run, maybe an outcry for larger purses should be in order.

Yes, that million dollar purse is just miniscule.

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Yes, that million dollar purse is just miniscule.

[Linny]

I'm disappointed but not shocked. I find it sad that the $1m G1 Belmont stakes doesn't have enough cache on it's own to attract the Derby winner/Preakness runner up in an attempt to even the score.

[whodey17]

I dont have a problem with this move at all. I don't think Carl looks at the Belmont the same way as he does the Travers. There is no need to run SS in the Belmont. A nice 2 month layoff and then the Dandy or Haskell and then they Travers. Then onto to the Breeders Cup if all goes well. If this plan works, SS would have raced 7 times in 2007. Not really much more you can ask in this day of racing.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Yes, that million dollar purse is just miniscule.

John,

I tend to agree that the purses could use a tweak as incentive.. or at least the resurrection of the TC bonus.. And the Derby at $2MM is STILL less than it should be given its' status..

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by whodey17

I dont have a problem with this move at all. I don't think Carl looks at the Belmont the same way as he does the Travers. There is no need to run SS in the Belmont. A nice 2 month layoff and then the Dandy or Haskell and then they Travers. Then onto to the Breeders Cup if all goes well. If this plan works, SS would have raced 7 times in 2007. Not really much more you can ask in this day of racing.

I hope Nafzger doesn't think he can go Haskell or Jim Dandy-Travers-BC Classic. Making your first start against elders in the Classic has not been a terrific move.

NT

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I hope Nafzger doesn't think he can go Haskell or Jim Dandy-Travers-BC Classic. Making your first start against elders in the Classic has not been a terrific move.

NT

Perhaps not, but Flower Alley managed to finish 2nd. IMO, Street Sense is a much better horse than FA was.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Perhaps not, but Flower Alley managed to finish 2nd. IMO, Street Sense is a much better horse than FA was.

I would guess they would give SS one more prep before the Classic.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Perhaps not, but Flower Alley managed to finish 2nd. IMO, Street Sense is a much better horse than FA was.

FA did start in the JCGC and finished a distant 4th, and you may recall Pletcher sending out Bishop Court Hill as a rabbit and Chantal Sutherland totally botching the assignment.

SS is a MUCH better horse than FA, that I can agree with you on.

Originally Posted by Kasept

John,

I tend to agree that the purses could use a tweak as incentive.. or at least the resurrection of the TC bonus.. And the Derby at $2MM is STILL less than it should be given its' status..

Exactly. It's a travesty that the Belmont Stakes has the same purse as the Travers and Haskell Invitational.

I'm still baffled how no company has stepped up and replaced Visa for the Triple Crown bonus. At the very least I expected J. Paul Reddam's Cash Call to step up to the plate.

[justindew]

Bottom Line: This is another in a long line of disappointing moments for this sport.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by justindew

Bottom Line: This is another in a long line of disappointing moments for this sport.

I think that statement over this is extremly overdramatic.