Althought the Belmont is longer than the other two it's easier on the horses to run a 1 1/2 miles than a all out 1 1/4 or 1 3/16 mile. The Belmont is usually won with speed horse not a deep closer.

Exactly correct. It's sort of along the same lines of thinking that I used when the debate was whether Bellamy Road should run in the Travers or the King's Bishop.

And Slew's Tizzy, that is screaming another 46.2

That's assuming he has to have the lead. He has rated in the past....But you are right, if Pino tries to go with the rabbits in that race he is finished....The fact that Street Sense ran that well yesterday has to make me think he has an excellent chance to win the Triple now. Not overused in the race, only his 3rd race of the year. I'd love to see it....Just wonder if he does win it, will he have a summer campaign. I pray that the horse that finally wins the Triple actually competes as a 4 yr old. A pipe dream I am sure.

At least SS will have a nice pace to run at if Flying First Class, Teuf and Hard Spun are all in the race. Heck, fractions could be faster in the Preakness than the Derby.

Jamie Sanders isn't really going to run that horse in the Preakness...is she?

Sadly I dont think Tberg is going to get a break. Looks like hes going to run in the Preakness. Probably would have made sense to not run in the Derby and take a shot in the Preakness.

Maybe not IF it happens- how old is SS's owner? I imagine the older one gets, the less the money means compared to the experience (Foggy's owner comes to mind).

Yes, I'm naive. I know. But Cigar ran until he was 6, and they didn't know he was sterile until after he retired, right?

Didn't you say that he was one of the 4 best horses in the Derby?

I actually don't think he needs a break. He's not running too much in my opinion. I actually don't even have a problem with where he's been placed in this year. He won the Southwest and earned a shot at the Blue Grass. But I thought the result of that race was very clear that he shouldn't have been in the Derby. And the result of the Derby should make it crystal clear that he shouldn't be in the Preakness.

Just looking over something and I noticed something that struck me as interesting. Should Hard Spun and Curlin run back in the Preakness? I don't think so. Not because I don't think they can both run well but at what long term cost to the horses? I feel that once u lose the Derby, especially if u run 2nd or 3rd, there is no incentive to come back in the Preakness or Belmont. Consider these horses that have run 2-3 in the Derby and come back in one of the other TC races and how they have fared recently:

2006
Bluegrass Cat (2nd...Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Steppenwolfer (3rd....Belmont)......I believe was knocked out for the rest of the year.

2005
Closing Argument (2nd...Preakness)....I don't think he's ever raced again.
Afleet Alex (3rd...Preakness/Belmont).........never raced again.

2004
Lion Heart (2nd...Preakness)........didn't make it past the summer.
Imperialism (3rd....Preakness)....continued on with his career.

2003
Empire Maker (2nd....Belmont).......didn't make it past the summer.
Peace Rules (3rd...Preakness).....continued on with his career.

So over the last four years, u have eight horses/
-three never raced again that year (37.5%)
-three more raced again but didn't make it past the summer (37.5%)
-two continued racing and even went into the next year (25%)

Is there something to this? Maybe, maybe not. I realize it's a very small sample size but it's still worth noting.

Also, it's a different game now. There are many huge purses out there after the TC now. U have the WV Derby, the Super Derby, the Travers, the Penn Derby, the Haskell, the Jim Dandy. The way the game is now, TC race winners are hardly around after the TC races anymore so these races become a lot easier to win than they were when the best horses of the TC were racing in them. Is it worth it to ask your horse to peak for the Derby and then ask him to come back and do it again two weeks later? I'm not so sure with today's horses and training.

a couple of those that didn't race or cut their career short could have continued on with some patience if the breeding shed wasn't so lucrative. the connections of a horse like empire maker were just waiting for any excuse to retire him to stud. a hangnail would have sent him to the shad.

KG,

I don't what you can conclude... Bluegrass Cat was less than sound all along. Afleet Alex sustained a fracture in the Preakness incident. Empire Maker nursed a bad hoof much of his career.

Closing Argument barely even made it to the Derby having been kept together with spit and glue by McLaughlin. I'm sure if KMc had it to do over again, he'd have passed the Preakness.

But honestly, isn't the idea is to race 'em while you got 'em? They're just as liable to have their careers ended any morning training, or in their stalls any time, as in a race. Agree the stress adds to the scenarios, but they aren't developed to be museum displays.

Did you "cyber burn" that hat you had as your avatar?:D

Go Storm in May!

you also have to take into consideration which of these horses were desirable for stud duty, both by owners, or potential future owners....

Yeah, I think hes a very nice horse. Im saying if they knew there were going to the Preakness all along they could have freshened him and had a legitiment shot. Rather than get drilled, and bring him back.

Looks like more early speed in the Preakness. Lukie sending First Class Flying and what about Toothlessbird? Is he going to send unlike he did in the Derby?

No, I actually own that hat too. :p

I love that horse to pieces... he had a quarter crack and a horrible trip. I'm not basing his performance in the Derby as a meter of how talented he is. I know he's a talented horse and hopefully, I'll get to see him this summer in Toga. :cool:

Not part of JS vocabulary