Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense won't compete in Belmont

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense won't compete in the Belmont Stakes so trainer Carl Nafzger can prepare his colt for the Travers Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic later this year.

"Mr. Tafel said let's not chase spilled water," Trainer Carl Nafzger said, according to AP. "We spilled our water during the Preakness. We got beat. We got outran."

"I know there's disappointment we're not going to the Belmont," Nafzger said. "But somewhere we want to make another stand."

The scratching of Street Sense leaves the Belmont with five probable starters, including Curlin and Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness third-place finisher Hard Spun. The other likely Belmont entries are Tiago, Slew's Tizzy and Imawildandcrazyguy.

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Preakness Winner Curlin Possible for Belmont

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Preakness Stakes winner Curlin remains on target for the Belmont Stakes on June 9 after the Smart Strike colt turned in an easy five-furlong breeze at Churchill Downs on Monday.

"I was very pleased with him," Asmussen said. "I just try to be pretty rhythmic with where we’re at with him. I feel that the familiarity for him with what we’re doing keeps his state of mind where we want it to be — nice and relaxed. With everything that’s been asked of him over a short period of time, I want to keep everything as close to normal as I possibly can."

Asmussen indicated that Curlin would breeze a half-mile next Monday and is scheduled to fly to New York the next day, June 5.

Street Sense stepped onto the track about a half-hour after Curlin's work. James Tafel's homebred son of Street Cry jogged six furlongs and galloped one mile under regular exercise rider Mark Cutler.

Trainer Carl Nafzger said a final decision on a possible Belmont Stakes bid for America's reigning 2-year-old champion would be made by Wednesday.

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Curlin denies Street Sense at Preakness

Curlin, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, won a tight stretch duel with Derby champion Street Sense to win the 132nd Preakness Stakes. Hard Spun was a well-beaten third.

After Curlin’s win by a head over Street Sense in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, Street Sense’s trainer Carl Nafzger laments on his colt’s lost chance at being the first Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and Triple Crown winner.

"My horse ran great. I got outran. That’s horse racing. If you can’t enjoy watching a $5,000 claimer give you 110 percent, you shouldn’t be in the horse business." He went on to say, "Maybe he gave me 105. But Curlin (gave) 110. You have to enjoy watching Curlin run."

For a brief while, it looked like Street Sense might just win. Jockey Calvin Borel opened a small lead near the end of the race, but that lead didn’t stop Curlin from making one final kick to win the race.

"Curlin’s going to get better as he gets experience," Nafzger said. "It’s going to be interesting to see what happens down the road. I think we’ve got a great challenge going." He finished by saying that while Curlin ran a heck of a race, Street Sense will prevail in the next meeting of the two horses.

For now, it looks as if it could be a while before fans get to see another race pitting Street Sense, Curlin and Hard Spun against one another. Hard Spun is the only one of the three who looks to be heading to the final jewel of the Triple Crown, the upcoming Belmont Stakes.

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