Everything I see on the replay (overhead, head-on, pan shot) shows that SS didn't flinch. He ran straight as an arrow. Didn't gawk at the crowd. Had his ears back the whole way. And he was hit on the left side repeatedly.
He didn't flinch in the Derby either. Or Tampa Bay Downs. Or at the BC Juvy. He didn't show any routine tendency to hang or gawk. Keeneland yes, but maybe he could not get traction on the poly as they were going toward the wire. Perhaps staggered a bit coming out of the hard race at Tampa Bay. Plus the stands at Keeneland are at an angle to the stretch.
Borel didn't lose the race. His glancing back didn't change the outcome.
Borel's ride was much better than Robby's. Robby had the horse wide most of the race. Curlin was into the stretch on the wrong lead. Robby did get him to switch leads, Curlin looked at SS, accelerated, game over.
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