Three-Year-Old Diary

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.