Belmont Field Will Not Feature Derby, Preakness Finishers

Street Sense, Hard Spun, Curlin. Curlin, Street Sense, Hard Spun. That's the finishing order of the horses in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, respectively, but it's unlikely we'll see the same contenders in the 2007 Belmont Stakes.

Street Sense, the horse that posted an amazing come-from-behind victory at the Kentucky Derby, and then lost by a nose to Curlin at the Preakness (made you look!), will in all probability not make an appearance at Belmont Park on June 9th.

Street Sense's trainer, Carl Nafzger, was noncommittal, but was leaning against Belmont. "I'll talk to Mr. Tafel [owner of Street Sense], but if I was a betting man I'd take some bets against it," Nafzger said.

There's perhaps a better chance that the Preakness winner Curlin will complete the 2007 Triple Crown races, but this too, is still uncertain. "This is the stage this horse deserves and those are the caliber of races he is intended for," said trainer Steve Asmussen.

Finally, trainer of Hard Spun, Larry Jones, is also being cryptic. "I don't know," he said, referring to Belmont. "We'll discuss it."

Perhaps more likely are Chelokee, who easily won the inaugural Barbaro Stakes, and Peter Pan Stakes winner Sightseeing. Other possible Belmont contenders include four Derby horses -- Imawildandcrazyguy (finished 4th), Tiago (7th), Nobiz Like Shobiz (10th) and Great Hunter (13th).

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