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Originally Posted by ArlJim78
well we just really disagree on this. from my point of view, Street Sense is clearly the one who had the best of circumstances. His two races that earned him all the big accolades were as drugs pointed out greatly enhanced by trip and pace factors. When he didn't have those gifts handed to him he was much more mortal and no sure thing.
for me Curlin earned all the credit starting late in the year, and campaining in every TC race remarkably well, historically well. then when he came back in the fall he took it up another notch.
the progression was evident in the head to head match ups
Kentucky Derby, Street Sense took advantage of a miraculous rail trip while Curlin had a more troubled trip and experienced the big race for the first time checks in a well beaten third.
Preakness, Curlin already exposes Street Sense by running him down to win. there was absolutely no way he should have been able to do that if Street Sense was the more talented horse. Street Sense had the jump on Curlin and should have been home free.
The Classic, Curlin runs by Street Sense like he was standing still.
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i thought street senses tampa bay derby, in which he defeated any given saturday and the clock was one of the best races of the year. he wasn't supposed to be 100% for that race, but he never gave up. in the preakness, it was a head bob either way-and curlin won it. then he loses to rags, who then loses the gazelle.
as for the classic, hard spun ran second (again, followed by the monster awesome gem, and then street sense. the derby, street sense, hard spun and then curlin. same group all year, battling each other all year. how that makes one head and shoulders better than the others, i don't know.
i NEVER said street sense was more talented. i think he was equally talented, and showed precocity at two, and then kept his form thru august of last year. now that's something that has been sadly lacking lately in tc runners. hard spun ran hard all year, and curlin as well. but they all took turns beating each other throughout the year. curlin may have had a stronger ending, but you can't use that to negate the beginning of the year.