The End of the Road
June 7 , 2007
| By Chris White
| 
Discuss
This weekend marks the end of the Triple Crown. Yup,
The Shield and Entourage are done, with the Soprano’s
final episode on Sunday night. I completely agree
with Startare on that one. Those my friends, are the
best three shows on TV today.
The other Triple Crown also wraps up this weekend.
Kentucky Derby, two weeks later the Preakness, three
weeks later the Belmont. Three Grade I’s in five
weeks for who’s the best in the three year old
division.
Everyone is aware by now that Street Sense decided
against running in New York for the third leg. Racing
insiders have been stewing, blogging, and debating
whether or not his departure from the series was good
for him, or for racing. More on that later.
Let’s quickly talk about the Preakness stakes. The
three big guns, Hard Spun, Curlin, and Street Sense
entered the starting gate together, with Street Sense
looking for his 2nd jewel as the post-time favorite.
Early on, the race played out as expected. Hard Spun
on the front end, with both Street Sense and Curlin
laying back in wait of their big finishing kicks.
Then something strange happened. Mario Pino, the
rider of Hard Spun who was sitting a perfect third on
the backstretch rail behind two speed horses, decided
to make his move. Many felt the move was premature,
including Larry Jones, Hard Spun’s trainer. Hard Spun
passed the two leaders and was cruising in clean air
around the far turn.
Then came both Street Sense and Curlin. Street Sense
inhaled the field and made the lead at the top of the
stretch. Carl Nafzger, Street Sense’s trainer turned
to his owner and nodded in approval. The money was
being counted.
What wasn’t being counted on was Curlin. Passed once
by Street Sense, Curlin unleashed a furious late kick.
The two three year old studs raced neck and neck for
the final 100 yards with everything on the line.
In the end, the photo revealed Curlin in front,
dashing Street Sense’s hopes of a 2007 Triple Crown
winner. The air in the racing world’s sails was
exhaled in one photograph.
Afterwards came the fallout. Beat writers from
Suffolk Downs to Hollywood Park chimed in. Mario Pino
moved too soon on Hard Spun. He was later replaced as
the horse’s rider by Garrett Gomez. Calvin Borel, the
hero just two weeks prior in Kentucky was chastised
for moving too soon. Some thought he panicked and hit
the gas before he should have. I for one thought
while Borel’s judgment and ride wasn’t his best,
Curlin’s performance was a bigger factor then Borel’s
ride. Curlin was the best horse in Baltimore, and now
he looks for the final jewel on Saturday.
In a separate writing, I called out to the people of
Belmont Park (NYRA) to pony up a million in cash in
bonus money. With a suitcase full of Ben Franklins at
the finish line, they may have lured Street Sense to
race back in New York, with either a Curlin win, or a
Street Sense win in the rubber match getting the
money. It would have been a tremendous PR move, would
have generated interest and handle, and for one more
day would have put racing back on the map with even
casual fans. Did they do it? Of course not. THE
biggest problem with racing today is the incredible
short-sightedness by the suits of the game. Everyone
is in if for the quick buck, this quarter vs. last
quarter. Growing the business is virtually NEVER in
their plans.
So... what do you have in Saturday’s 11th race at
Belmont Park? A race, that’s about it. Seven will go
to post with Curlin a heavy favorite, Hard Spun the
second choice, and a girl, that’s right, a GIRL the
third pick in the wagering.
With the wind out of my racing sails, a Curlin or Hard
Spun win would be nice, but the race is virtually
unplayable from a wagering standpoint. If I’m down to
my last five duckets on Saturday, I’ll take Tiago for
a price.
Five bucks of my hard earned cash is about all Belmont
Park with their “Blinder’s On” mentality deserve.
Bored? Stop in for a mental cocktail at Whitey’s Pub!
www.geocities.com/crwhitey2000
