|
|
THREE-YEAR-OLD DIARY JUNE 6, 2007 by James Scully Sportsmanship isn't dead in Thoroughbred racing. Five days after the connections of Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) backed down from a challenge, nixing an exciting rematch between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winners, trainer Todd Pletcher announced that RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) will run in Saturday's 139th running of the Belmont S. (G1). She adds plenty of intrigue to the event. Unbeaten in four starts this year, Rags to Riches exits a spectacular victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). A three-time Grade 1 winner, her BRIS Speed ratings (109 in the Oaks) are on par with those of CURLIN (Smart Strike) and HARD SPUN (Danzig), and she's bred to relish the 1 1/2-mile distance. The chestnut filly is very talented. Of course, Rags to Riches has never faced horses of the quality of Curlin and Hard Spun. Curlin appeared beaten in midstretch before courageously re-rallying to nail Street Sense on the wire in the Preakness, improving to four-for-five in his career. Inexperience played a role in his third-place Derby showing, but Curlin will enter the "Test of Champions" as a seasoned professional. With his tactical speed, pace isn't a major issue for the muscular colt. The main concern is a regression. Curlin has been asked to do a lot in a short period of time, making his stakes debut in his second career outing in mid-March, and the Belmont marks his third start in five weeks. It could all catch up to him, but I wouldn't count on it. Hard Spun will have to be caught. He didn't face the stiffest competition in his Derby preps and entered the 1 1/4-mile test off a six-week freshening. Five days out, trainer Larry Jones blew out his charge with a five-furlong drill (:57 3/5) in which Hard Spun flew early before laboring late. After being roundly criticized for this final work, Jones looked like a genius on Derby Day as Hard Spun shot to the front of the pack and set fast splits in :22 4/5 and :46 1/5 while running easily on the front end. Hard Spun ran a winning race and would've been wearing the roses if Street Sense hadn't benefited from a dream trip up the rail. He still finished 5 3/4 lengths clear of Curlin. There was too much pace in the Preakness, with soon-to-be sprinters Flying First Class (Perfect Mandate) and Xchanger (Exchange Rate) running each other into the ground, and the headstrong Hard Spun didn't want to rate, eventually finishing third. The Belmont will feature a much different pace scenario, and Hard Spun will receive a jockey change to Garrett Gomez, who is perhaps the best big-money rider in racing. Speed is always dangerous in long-distance routes, and Hard Spun owns at least a tactical edge over his main rivals. It's just a shame that Street Sense won't be running. I didn't understand the decision; what are they saving him for? His connections announced over the weekend that he will stand at Darley's Jonabell Farm, when his three-year-old season is over, so we'll get to see Street Sense race two, maybe three more times at best. Winning two-of-three Triple Crown events would practically guarantee Street Sense champion three-year-old honors. If Curlin wins the Belmont, it doesn't matter if Street Sense takes the Haskell Invitational (G1) and Travers S. (G1). Street Sense will need to capture the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to win the Eclipse Award. Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes) is also pointing toward the Classic, and the race won't be held at Churchill Downs this year. Curlin is the horse to beat on Saturday, and he's recorded a pair of works for Steve Asmussen since his victory at Pimlico. "That was what we want to see," said Asmussen following the colt's four-furlong breeze in :50 3/5 on Monday. "He looks very familiar, very loose." Hard Spun worked at Belmont on Sunday, breezing five furlongs in 1:03 with Gomez. "Just look at him," Jones said about the colt's physical condition. "You can barely see any sign of a rib, and he's still got a belly. It's unbelievable. I guarantee you he's as heavy today (Monday) as he was going into the Derby." Both appear ready to go. Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), who galloped out very strongly after the wire in the Derby, and Lone Star Derby (G3) winner SLEW'S TIZZY (Tiznow) own some appeal for the bottom of the exotics given their improving form. But the Belmont shapes up to be a battle between a pair of Triple Crown warriors and the filly. I'll be rooting for Rags to Riches, but I won't be disappointed to see Curlin or Hard Spun win. I'm looking forward to a great race.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
