6/8/07
Last updated: 6/8/07 9:00 PM
<p align="center"><b><i><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT </font></i></b><i>
</p><p><b><font face="Arial" size="4">THEY SAID IT</font></b></i></p>
</p><p><p align="center"><b><font face="Arial" size="2">JUNE 8, 2007</font></b></p>
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</p><p><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" align="right" cellspacing="0" width="200"><tr><td align="right" style="Border:black 1px solid;"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/brisnet-content/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/15004523/curlin6-6jd2-1.jpg" width="200"/></td></tr><tr><td align="right">
</p><p>
</p><p> <b><font size="2">Curlin will try to stay on the winning track in the Belmont</font></b><font size="1">
</p><p> (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)</font></td>
</p><p>
</p><p> </tr></table><p>"He's a competitor. He is very talented to stand up on this stage with no
</p><p>bottom or experience underneath him of previous races to fall back on. What a
</p><p>fighter he is. His attitude off of losing the Derby was very determined and
</p><p>somewhat aggressive."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—trainer Steve Asmussen on
</p><p>CURLIN (Smart Strike), the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's Belmont S.
</p><p>(G1); Curlin suffered his lone loss when third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and
</p><p>rebounded to win the Preakness S. (G1) </strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"His appetite has stayed great. He's nice and loose and is relaxed
</p><p>mentally. He's up to this. I see it in him."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>Asmussen on how
</p><p>Curlin is coming up to the third jewel of the Triple Crown</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"You don't know he can stay until he does it. Adding a quarter-mile to
</p><p>the end of the Kentucky Derby seems extreme, but it's what makes the Belmont a
</p><p>special race. All of these questions won't get answered until tomorrow
</p><p>afternoon."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Asmussen on
</p><p>Curlin and the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"She adds curiosity. There's no comparative form as far as common horses
</p><p>the group has run against. I think everyone's been impressed with her and I
</p><p>can't say enough about the (Las Virgenes S. [G1]); it was just an amazing race.
</p><p>I'm very curious to see how she stacks up to what I believe is a group of
</p><p>excellent three-year-old colts."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Asmussen on the
</p><p>Todd Pletcher-trained RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy), who will try to become the
</p><p>first filly since Tanya in 1905 to win the Belmont</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p> </td>
</p><p>
</p><p> </tr></table><p>"She's been dominant against fillies and now we'll see how she does
</p><p>against the colts. I do think going a mile and a half is an advantage for her
</p><p>and she's also fresh. I think the time from the Kentucky Oaks is going to help."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—jockey John
</p><p>Velazquez, who has never won a Triple Crown race, on Rags to Riches, a 4
</p><p>1/4-length winner of the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1)</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"You just have to hope you have enough natural ability to get it done.
</p><p>This is a hard race to train for. You just have to hope your horse can dig you
</p><p>out of the hole you put him in."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—trainer Larry
</p><p>Jones on Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness third HARD SPUN (Danzig)</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
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</p><p><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" align="left" cellspacing="0" width="200"><tr><td align="right" style="Border:black 1px solid;"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/brisnet-content/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/15004523/imawildandcrazyguy6-8jd-1.jpg" width="200"/></td></tr><tr><td align="right">
</p><p>
</p><p> <b><font size="2">Imawildandcrazyguy will try to prove his rallying fourth in the Derby was no fluke</font></b><font size="1">
</p><p> (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)</font></td>
</p><p>
</p><p> </tr></table><p>"He was very game in the Preakness. If I could do it over, I would have
</p><p>waited a bit longer to move on him, try to bide my time and come at them at the
</p><p>end."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—jockey Edgar
</p><p>Prado, who rode C P WEST (Came Home) to a fourth-place finish in the Preakness</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"It's a good indicator, but a lot of horses know where the wire is. It's
</p><p>good to see them gallop out so strongly because you know they have something
</p><p>left, but that's about all."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—trainer John
</p><p>Shirreffs on TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), who galloped out with interest after
</p><p>finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p> <p>"I think this is an incredible race from top to bottom. If you're a
</p><p>handicapper and can't look at this race and enjoy betting on it, give up! You've
</p><p>got all kinds of pedigree angles, racing angles and figure angles."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—trainer Greg
</p><p>Fox, who will saddle SLEW'S TIZZY (Tiznow) in the Belmont</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"A lot of people have said Hard Spun is not going to the lead. He's been
</p><p>(naturally quicker) than our horse so far. I don't want to get into any kind of
</p><p>speed duel. Hard Spun is fast. People are saying Hard Spun will sit off of us,
</p><p>but how do they know we're going to the lead?"</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Fox on where he
</p><p>thinks his horse will be in relation to Hard Spun</strong></em></font></p>
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</p><p> </td>
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