Street Sense- should he or shouldn't he?

[hockey2315]

The funny thing is, that if SS wins the photo in the Preakness he's going- it's a no-brainer. . . I know the obvious argument is "well, if the horse has a shot at the triple crown then he HAS to run in the Belmont" - but if it's so taxing, then to run SS in the Belmont wouldn't be putting his best interests first if Nafzger thought it might compromise his health. . . They should just run the damn horse now if he's training well. . . He's probably just as likely to get hurt while training or walking around as he as running in a race so why not run him now if he's healthy. . .

[Danzig]

there is no guarantee of anything. street sense could lay out, and still be out later this year. he could run, win, and be out later...or he could run, lose, be out...or he could run, and run later, win some and lose some.

who knows??? that's why it's under the umbrella known as gambling! if the horse can run, run him. if he can't or shouldn't, don't. but don't keep him in the barn now, if he's ready, as tho that is some guarantee that he'll remain ready down the road! just ask nick zito!


and i agree with the poster who said had he won by a head, rather than lost, we wouldn't even be having this discussion! shame that a few inches means the difference between 'what's best' and running....

[Danzig]

one other question--just how many restricted million dollar races are there for 3 yo's??
and didn't unbridled run in the belmont, en route to the bcc win?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I believe Unbridled was a soundly beaten 4th to Go and Go in the Belmont.

Unbridled won the Derby conclusively, was a solid 2nd in what I'm almost positive was a very swiftly run Preakness on figures.

I don't believe Unbrideled won a race in between the Derby and the Breeders Cup Classic---and I'm not so sure Nafzger wasn't regretting his decision to run him in the Belmont Stakes...at least until he won the Classic later that year anyway.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I believe Unbridled was a soundly beaten 4th to Go and Go in the Belmont.

Unbridled won the Derby conclusively, was a solid 2nd in what I'm almost positive was a very swiftly run Preakness on figures.

I don't believe Unbrideled won a race in between the Derby and the Breeders Cup Classic---and I'm not so sure Nafzger wasn't regretting his decision to run him in the Belmont Stakes...at least until he won the Classic later that year anyway.

no wins, he ran 2nd in the super derby and secretariat stakes....

[robfla]

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Thanks for that form of Unbridled.

I remember BTW complaining about how Black Tie Affair stole that 1990 Breeders Cup Classic (he ran a 120 Beyer in victory) ---Unbridled was actually 16 lengths back at the first call.....he closed for 3rd and ran a figure in defeat which was good enough to win the race in some other years.

Nafzger sure did have him ready when he had time to point for one major race with him.

He actually edged out Cee's Tizzy for 2nd in the 1989 Super Derby. I have a friend who posts here send me tape of Cee's Tizzy's Del Mar win at one mile that year. In a two-turn mile race, he carved out fractions of 21 4/5, 44 flat, 1:08 and something like a 1:33 2/5 final time. He was 1/5th of a second off of Percisionist's track record that day. He finished his career with just 6 starts, never winning a stake....but he'll be remembered for siring two-time Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow more than anything else.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I believe Unbridled was a soundly beaten 4th to Go and Go in the Belmont.

Unbridled won the Derby conclusively, was a solid 2nd in what I'm almost positive was a very swiftly run Preakness on figures.

I don't believe Unbrideled won a race in between the Derby and the Breeders Cup Classic---and I'm not so sure Nafzger wasn't regretting his decision to run him in the Belmont Stakes...at least until he won the Classic later that year anyway.

Unbridled's victory in the classic that day also came when Pat Day gave a Calvin B-type ride coming up the rail and then splitting horses in the stretch.
Maybe this bodes well for Street Sense's chances in the BCC. Just like Unbridled he won the Derby from well-off the pace and then ran second in the Preakness.
Unbridled was a good, consistent, horse who almost always ran fairly well and tended to run very well (and have things go his way) on racing's biggest days. Sounds familiar to me.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Danzig

there is no guarantee of anything. street sense could lay out, and still be out later this year. he could run, win, and be out later...or he could run, lose, be out...or he could run, and run later, win some and lose some.

who knows??? that's why it's under the umbrella known as gambling! if the horse can run, run him. if he can't or shouldn't, don't. but don't keep him in the barn now, if he's ready, as tho that is some guarantee that he'll remain ready down the road! just ask nick zito!


and i agree with the poster who said had he won by a head, rather than lost, we wouldn't even be having this discussion! shame that a few inches means the difference between 'what's best' and running....

There is a much better chance of the horse lasting if they skip the Belmont. That's what it comes down to. There are never any guarantees. If I eat really healthy, there is no guarantee that I won't get cancer. Does that mean that I shouldn't eat healthy? All you can do is do the smart thing and put the odds on your side. But even then, there are still no gurantees.

I don't think the fact that SS lost the Preakness is the reason they're not running. If anything, I think the fact that they lost would make them more likely to run because they would want to come back and reverse the tables on Curlin.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

There is a much better chance of the horse lasting if they skip the Belmont. That's what it comes down to. There are never any guarantees. If I eat really healthy, there is no guarantee that I won't get cancer. Does that mean that I shouldn't eat healthy? All you can do is do the smart thing and put the odds on your side. But even then, there are still no gurantees.

I don't think the fact that SS lost the Preakness is the reason they're not running. If anything, I think the fact that they lost would make them more likely to run because they would want to come back and reverse the tables on Curlin.

Of course it's a reason they're not running.. Just not the only factor. If SS had won the Preakness, you telling me they'd skip the Belmont anyway? I seriously doubt that.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Of course it's a reason they're not running.. Just not the only factor. If SS had won the Preakness, you telling me they'd skip the Belmont anyway? I seriously doubt that.

I am so embarassed. I was so focused on his current situation that I forgot that if he would have won the Preakness that he would have still been alive to win the Triple Crown. Of course they would have run him in the Belmont in that case. They would have had to go for the Triple Crown.

But in that case, winning the Belmont would do more for his breeding value than winning any other race. Being the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years would make the horse worth an absolute fortune.