Thu 19 Jul 2007
Street Sense, Curlin, Ready for Saratoga
Posted by admin under Horse Racing
While it’s clear Street Sense is in top shape, Nafzger has yet to declare whether his 3-year-old colt will run next in Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29 or the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 5 at Monmouth Park.
Street Sense is scheduled to be shipped to Saratoga on Saturday.
Curlin, who beat Street Sense in the Preakness Stakes on May 19, already is at Saratoga. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s colt put in a top effort in a workout at Saratoga on Tuesday, but it was nearly three seconds slower than Street Sense’s work. Still, Curlin’s five furlongs in 1:00.20 was the fastest time of 11 other works at the distance.
With Curlin, Derby runner-up Hard Spun and Dwyer winner Any Given Saturday set for the $1 million Haskell, the $500,000 Jim Dandy seems to be the likely choice for Street Sense. Both races are 1 1/8 miles, and serve as a tuneup for the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 25.
The goal, of course, is the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, which this year will be at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.
Street Sense, the 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, galloped out six furlongs in 1:09.80, and Borel says the son of Street Cry is getting “better and better.
“He’s happy right now,” Borel said. “He’s had a little freshening. He’s put on about 50 pounds, and he’s wanting to do it now. I had him on cruise control. He’s got so much power to him now it’s just unbelievable.”
Street Sense, owned by James Tafel, has won four of nine races with three runner-up finishes and two thirds for earnings of $3,158,200.
Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, who was pulled out of Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oak at Belmont because of a slight fever, is healthy again and set for a workout Sunday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday the 3-year-old filly remains on schedule to run next on Aug. 18, in the Alabama Stakes for fillies.