Street Sense to skip Belmont

[Danzig]

from drf:

Nafzger said Street Sense would instead have two major objectives the rest of the year, the Travers Stakes Aug. 25 at Saratoga, and the Breeders' Cup Classic Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park. No horse has ever won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Derby, Travers, and Classic, a superfecta Nafzger said "would be history."

Had Street Sense run in the Belmont, that too would have been history. Curlin, who won the Preakness after finishing third in the Derby, and Hard Spun, who was second in the Derby and third in the Preakness, both are heading to Belmont Park for the 1 1/2-mile race. Had all three run, it would have been the first time the same three horses took the first three spots in the Derby and Preakness and then competed in the Belmont.

and like another trainer said (several were surprised at the announcement) there are only three classics...much as some like to refer to the travers as the 'fourth' there are only three.

i know the preakness gets a bad rap, especially because of the state of pimlico--but it's played a significant role the last couple years in year-end voting. if this trend continues, it's the belmont that will be on life support, not the preakness.