Street Sense looks good for Preakness

By Tom Krish

May 18, 2007

Street Sense

Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland hosts the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the American triple crown, on Saturday. It will be on Pimlico's (regular) dirt course.Post time for the Preakness is 6 09 P M Eastern time. It will be 3 39 A M on Sunday in India.

Nine horses have been left in at the declaration stage for the 1 3/16 mile Grade I event. Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby champion, has drawn post-eight and is the 14-10 morning line favorite. Hard Spun who took second in the Derby, leaves from post-seven and is the 5-2 second choice. Curlin, third at Churchill Downs, has drawn post-four and is listed at 7-2. Four Derby participants are in the Preakness. Circular Quay, sixth in the Derby, is at 8-1. Todd Pletcher, in addition to Circular Quay, sends out King of the Roxy.

The Preakness carries a purse of one million dollars. It is the 11th race in a 13-race card. There are eight stakes races including five graded events. Race nine is the Barbaro Stakes, a $100,000 race over 1 1/16 miles.

"I am happy with the draw. You can sit there and read everybody, " Carl Nafzger, Street Sense's trainer, said.

Hard Spun's trainer, Larry Jones had this to say. "Post-seven won the Derby. My horse can leave. He can be held up. There's a long run to the first turn. It will work for me."

Curlin is being trained by Steve Asmussen. Steve's assistant, Scott Blasi expressed delight at the draw. "Post-four gives us a chance to run our race. We ran into all kinds of problems in Louisville.":

Given his manner of winning the Derby, it is hard to oppose Street Sense. He accelerates like a race car. The nine-horse field should help Street Sense steer clear of traffic problems.

Hard Spun should relish Pimlico's tight turns and a slight drop-back in the distance. He should be in the mix.

Curlin figures to have a much happier trip and he should be seen in better light. Circular Quay comes on late and he has to have a scorching pace to use his late kick to advantage.

In Britain, Street Sense is even money to win the Preakness.. He is 3-2 to win the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes, over 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park in New York, is to be run on June 9.