NEWS
Connections of Street Sense to make Belmont decision Thursday
Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 3:35 PM
STREET SENSE
NTRA photo
A work on Wednesday will play a significant role in determining whether Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Street Sense will be entered in the $1-million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9, trainer Carl Nafzger said Tuesday.
The Street Cry (Ire) colt, who won the 2006 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) en route to champion two-year-old male honors, galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on Tuesday under exercise rider Mark Cutler.
The planned work on Wednesday will be his first timed move since he finished second to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
Nafzger said he and owner Jim Tafel will announce their decision at Churchill on Thursday.
“This will be a work we can go either way with,” Nafzger said. “Whatever Mr. Tafel's decision is, we can come off of that work and go either way. He's doing good and he's getting around there okay, but you've just got to see where you are.”
Curlin, who is among the likely contenders for the Belmont Stakes, walked the shedrow at trainer Steve Asmussen’s Churchill barn one day after working five furlongs in 1:03.20 under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas.
Asmussen’s assistant, Scott Blasi, said the muscular Smart Strike colt appeared to be strong on Tuesday morning.
"He came out of that work super," Blasi said.
Owned by the partnership of Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, George Bolton, and Midnight Cry Stables, Curlin is scheduled to return to the track to gallop at approximately 6:15 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. He is expected to work again on Monday and travel to New York on Tuesday.
On Monday, Daily Racing Form reported that Racing Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has removed Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) runner-up Sightseeing from consideration for the Belmont, opting instead to await the Dwyer Stakes (G2) on July 4 at Belmont Park.
