THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

Sometimes I think we take for granted when truly amazing moments in sports happen in front of our eyes.  Lost in all the obsession of getting a Triple Crown winner for the 1st time in 3 decades was the fact that we had 3 individually incredible races this year.  True, we didn’t get a dominant horse (at the time), but what we did get specifically were runs for the ages in the Preakness and Belmont, along with a celebrity in the making with Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.   It was a series for all times and was comprised of arguably the best crop of 3 year olds we’ve ever seen.

What a cast of characters there were to choose from!  There was 2 year old champion Street Sense, battle tested and assured.  On the other hand, you had the relatively new and untested Curlin, who had pulled off some impressive victories in the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.   Outside of them there were many other interesting horses, such as Nobiz Like Showbiz, Tiago, and Scat Daddy. 

Going into the Derby, I was a huge Curlin supporter, as previously noted.   I still believe he was primed to run a big one that day if only he had drawn a better post position and not encountered such horrific traffic during his trip.  Along with Curlin, I thought that Hard Spun was perhaps the toughest of the group, and gritty enough to capitalize in the stretch when it counted.  What I didn’t see was him attempting to wire the field…..and coming darn close to doing so.  Outside of those two, my focus turned to Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago, the half brother of 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo at 50-1.    I liked his closing style and with a field the size of the 2007 Derby (20 horses), I figured he was as good a bet as any to be rolling late.   I was aware of Street Sense, and certainly took a long look at him, but my gut told me that his best days might be behind him and that he had already been through one too many battles.  I noted that another horse, Scat Daddy, seemed to be doing well against him and made him my 4th choice.   I left Street Sense on my exacta and trifecta tickets  in the lower slots.   I thought it was time to beat the favorite in the Derby.  What a huge mistake that was! 

While Hard Spun was thundering around the turns and leading the field, and while Curlin was encountering his well documented traffic problems, Street Sense made an incredible move to find the rail and surged from 19th to 1st, overcoming Hard Spun in the end by 2 1/4 lengths.   Watching from the monitors at Pimlico (where I was taking in a day of live racing and wagering on the Churchill card via simulcast), it was as if Moses had parted the Red Sea and a huge lane opened up for Street Sense to run through.   To his credit, he took full advantage of the opportunity, and had clearly saved some gas for the final stretch.   How this could happen at Churchill and with notorious rail-rider Calvin Borel aboard was beyond my ability to comprehend.  No matter how I felt though, I had to take my hat off to Street Sense.   He had for the moment made the rest of the 3 year old crop look totally outclassed.

In the buildup to the Preakness, many thought Street Sense was heading for a date with destiny and a full Triple Crown sweep.  I vividly recall hearing many of the more well-known handicappers commenting about how Curlin was “too green” and that there was no way he could make up the more than 7 lengths that Street Sense had defeated him by.  I’ve gone on at great length about my belief in Curlin, so suffice to say I was not shaken by this doubt and speculation.  “All the more money for me when he wins” was my thought.  

At the beginning of the race, Curlin stumbled at the gate.  I make mention of this because I see so many people reference the filly Rags to Riches stumbling at the beginning of the Belmont two weeks later, but in my mind this was  the more important tumble and nearly cost Curlin his chance for victory.   Standing in the crowds that day, I remember in almost slow motion the horses turning for home.  Hard Spun had bolted out to the lead along the back stretch, and now Street Sense had flown past Curlin and him to take what appeared to be a commanding lead.  Street Sense was running his heart out at the time, and it seemed nothing could catch him.  Suddenly, from a bit wide and an ever-increasing gap behind the leader, a chestnut bullet exploded.  You could almost see him saying to himself “not this time, my friend!”  Curlin opened up with his giant strides and came gunning for Street Sense.  By the time Street Sense realized he had a race on his hands, it was too late.  Curlin had nailed him at the wire in the most memorable Preakness in roughly 18 years.   All hope for a Triple Crown championship disappeared with the photo finish.  What the world got that day, however,  was a courageous colt with a late kicking stretch running style that seemed capable of conquering anyone.   Curlin had done the unthinkable in not only beating Street Sense, but making a run at the official track record that was originally set by Secretariat (note: there is some controversy as to what Secretariat’s final time actually was).

Heading into the Belmont, Street Sense scratched and the race seemed wide open for Curlin to win.  Almost as an afterthought, a young filly named Rags to Riches was entered by Todd Pletcher, who had entered a multitude of horses in the Kentucky Derby and came up empty.  Surely this also ran, if not good enough for his initial Derby entry, would be no match for the ferocious Curlin in the Belmont, would she?   Strange things are possible when you race under the shadow of the great Ruffian, and I can’t help but think that maybe somehow she played a roll in helping Rags to Riches make history that day. 

After a crawling opening pace, the top contenders burst into the stretch with everything they had.  Curlin, Hard Spun, and the filly Rags to Riches, who had stumbled at the start of the race  but did not have it affect her thanks to the aforementioned slow pace, were abreast charging for home.  Very quickly Hard Spun was left behind by Curlin and Rags to Riches.  These two now engaged in a duel for the ages throughout the final furlong.   Curlin, who usually prefers a wider running lane, was stuck to the inside.  Rags to Riches had about a head on him just to his outside.  At times, it appeared that Curlin had drawn even with her, but each time he did Rags to Riches had something left, and would respond to the whip by reclaiming the slightest of leads.   Up until the final inches I thought for sure Curlin would get her, but alas he did not.  History was made with a filly winning the Belmont Stakes! Who could believe it?    Rags had come in relatively fresh compared to Curlin, who had now run in 3 races in 5 weeks after being lightly raced as a young 3 year old.   Somehow, someway, Rags to Riches had found away to hold off his gigantic strides.  Suddenly America had a filly to cheer for.  

With the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes, the curtain closed on a tremendous Triple Crown season.   Street Sense and Curlin would meet again to determine the top 3 year old of the year, but sadly we haven’t really seen Rags to Riches again, except for a 2nd place finish to Lear’s Princess in the Gazelle Handicap, after which she was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in her right front pastern.   Further, as I write this, Hard Spun, Any Given Saturday, and Street Sense have officially retired and started career #2 in the breeding shed.   I can’t help but think what might have been had they come back as 4 year olds.

Instead, we’ll have to move on without them.  With that, I submit my youtube video paying homage to the 2007 Triple Crown season. It’s set to “Just Like Heaven” by the Cure.   I thought that was fitting and proper considering this year’s series was a gift from heaven to horse racing fans.

Here’s to Street Sense, Curlin, Rags to Riches, and Hard Spun for an amazing 2007 Triple Crown series.   I know I’ll never forget it!