My daughter's basketball coach who knows I love racing but knows nothing about it called me right after the finish out of nowhere, and said his heart was throbbing. He said he did not realize the sport was so exciting. I had to tell him he saw one of the best races he will see. So I think the general public got a big thrill out of this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

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Someone who posts overly negavite, critical or messages meant to inflame passions about a subject others care about.

or... Little dwarfish men with warts and long stragly hair that hide under bridges scaring the crap out of kids.

Curlin wouldn't have won the Derby even if he had Eddie Arcaro on him!!! What a moronic statement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope they meet again soon. I doubt they will -- I think Nafzger has seen all he needed to see.

SS's connections were very arrogant.

Tell me that there is no arrogance here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192007...y_kerrison.htm

Yeah, Borel says Curlin, "hasn't stepped up to the plate." And Nafzger says, "it's going to be a fun race."

Curlin stepped up to the plate and I wonder how much fun Nafzger is having today. With their attitude they deserved what they got.

You want to count those quotes and confidence in their horse as arrogance, go ahead. You seem to be able to only deal in imperatives. To me, it's rare we ever get any real outgoing comments from anyone in the game. While I'm sure he's disappointed, Carl Nafzger will be as happy today as he was two weeks ago. His training career is ending this year, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. Calvin Borel won himself a Derby, and Robby Albarado won himself a Preakness. You aren't aware of it, but Steve Asmussen was 'guaranteeing' a Derby win in conversations two weeks ago. Was that 'arrogance'? You'd think everyone would exit these first two classic events thrilled that we've got 2, 3 with Hard Spun, authentic racehorses of real quality.. But you seem anxious to portray one set of connections as deserving to be beaten. It's silly.

Nafzger seems to be getting over it and is now looking forward to a rivalry. Talk about glass half full. :) Good for him. I'm bummed they won't go to the Belmont, though.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=39032

WOW Indeed! What a great race! This one and The Tampa race were the best in the 3 year old campaign this year. Curlin was the best and you could see after the race he ran his heart out! Love to see dogfights like that in the stretch.
Don't think it really mattered in the end, but being a Hard Spun fan I was bummed out when Pino moved him when he did- all week long he was talking about being patient, but when the time came he pulled the trigger too soon. Like I said though it probably didn't matter- there were 2 better horses in the race.
Don't know if any of the top 3 should go to the Belmont at this point ,but we'll see.

That was an incredible race! You know it's good when you lose $20 by a nose and still say to yourself, "Damn, that was great!" The way I see it, we have two outstanding racehorses here, and one of them just had a little bit more left in the tank at the end. I can't argue with the ride by either jockey.

Hard Spun, on the other hand, was moved way too early. I can't understand why Pino thought he had to jump into that speed duel with Xchanger and Flying First Class. These two speedballs were clearly going to burn themselves out at that pace. Unless Hard Spun hates taking dirt to the face, there was no reason to chase the pretenders instead of waiting for the contenders.

Can't wait for the rematch-- whenever it may be . . .

I think the final time says it all. Great race by both & someone had to lose the head bob.

i think they were just the opposite

well the horse ran his eyeballs out in the derby and ya gotta wonder how much starch that mighta took outta him, pretty sure they will skip the belmont with him. as far as the ice cream man's(pino) ride went yesterday im sure he wanted to get some momentum built up be4 the same horse that down in louisville made his move

After a lot of analysis, here is what I've come up with......

First Hard Spun's race.....not much else to say other than he got a horrible ride....I think the whole camp talked themselves right into that high cruising speed theory and Pino just let him go and thought as long as he wasn't riding him, he would have plenty left in the tank because he was just "cruising"....well he was toast at the top of the stretch...I think it's time for the connections to re-evaluate some things because he is a very nice horse....

The race that Curlin and Street Sense had is something that HBO documentaries are made of....The post Derby ride with Nafziger and Borel....the friendship between Borel and Albarado....the story of Curlin's connections and how they got there....and then the race.....Curlin almost goes head over heels at the kick....the blistering pace.....Borel and Street Sense pulling off another rail skimming move on the turn....Street Sense blowing by Curlin at the top of the stretch...Borel running out of goggles....Borel looking over his right shoulder and much to his amazement, Albarado and Curlin are bearing down....and then the wire.....What a race!!!

I am not buying the "hang" argument. The horse certainly "hung" in the Derby as well, except no other horse was moving fast enough to run by him...or was close enough to run by him. He ran pretty much exactly the same race in the Preakness as the Derby. Curlin just ran a bit faster in the stretch. Looking at Street Sense's stride through the whole stretch...I am not fathoming the "hang" theory on this race. No matter how fast the track was playing, it is hard for me to buy a horse running 1:53 and a half for 9.5 furlongs was "hanging".

I'd been reading thread after thread looking for someone willing to call out Pino for his ride on Hard Spun; I'm glad I've finally found it here. The 1 in the next race was a downright lock after Pino's pathetic ride in the Preakness - he had to make that ride up to someone.

Anywho, that's my thought on the race. Street Sense and Curling were great, but I don't think Hard Spun got the shot he deserved. I'd also like to see all three go in the Belmont. Hard Spun had a Touch Gold-esque Preakness yesterday, and it's not like Danzig doesn't throw horses that like to go forever.

Your last paragraph says it all, and I couldn't agree more.
From a horse racing fan, in all honesty, one couldn't ask for any more or better. This race will long be remembered.
I hope it made some new fans.
The Mending Fences race might have lost a few. RIP MF.

nafzger will meet with street senses owner later this week, hopefully tafel will opt to go to new york-obviously if street sense is ready willing and able...