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BELMONT
THEY SAID IT
JUNE 8, 2007
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Curlin will try to stay on the winning track in the Belmont
(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) |
"He's a competitor. He is very talented to stand up on this stage with no
bottom or experience underneath him of previous races to fall back on. What a
fighter he is. His attitude off of losing the Derby was very determined and
somewhat aggressive."
—trainer Steve Asmussen on
CURLIN (Smart Strike), the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's Belmont S.
(G1); Curlin suffered his lone loss when third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and
rebounded to win the Preakness S. (G1)
"His appetite has stayed great. He's nice and loose and is relaxed
mentally. He's up to this. I see it in him."
—Asmussen on how
Curlin is coming up to the third jewel of the Triple Crown
"You don't know he can stay until he does it. Adding a quarter-mile to
the end of the Kentucky Derby seems extreme, but it's what makes the Belmont a
special race. All of these questions won't get answered until tomorrow
afternoon."
—Asmussen on
Curlin and the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont
"She adds curiosity. There's no comparative form as far as common horses
the group has run against. I think everyone's been impressed with her and I
can't say enough about the (Las Virgenes S. [G1]); it was just an amazing race.
I'm very curious to see how she stacks up to what I believe is a group of
excellent three-year-old colts."
—Asmussen on the
Todd Pletcher-trained RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy), who will try to become the
first filly since Tanya in 1905 to win the Belmont
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"She's been dominant against fillies and now we'll see how she does
against the colts. I do think going a mile and a half is an advantage for her
and she's also fresh. I think the time from the Kentucky Oaks is going to help."
—jockey John
Velazquez, who has never won a Triple Crown race, on Rags to Riches, a 4
1/4-length winner of the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1)
"You just have to hope you have enough natural ability to get it done.
This is a hard race to train for. You just have to hope your horse can dig you
out of the hole you put him in."
—trainer Larry
Jones on Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness third HARD SPUN (Danzig)
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Imawildandcrazyguy will try to prove his rallying fourth in the Derby was no fluke
(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) |
"He was very game in the Preakness. If I could do it over, I would have
waited a bit longer to move on him, try to bide my time and come at them at the
end."
—jockey Edgar
Prado, who rode C P WEST (Came Home) to a fourth-place finish in the Preakness
"It's a good indicator, but a lot of horses know where the wire is. It's
good to see them gallop out so strongly because you know they have something
left, but that's about all."
—trainer John
Shirreffs on TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), who galloped out with interest after
finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby
"I think this is an incredible race from top to bottom. If you're a
handicapper and can't look at this race and enjoy betting on it, give up! You've
got all kinds of pedigree angles, racing angles and figure angles."
—trainer Greg
Fox, who will saddle SLEW'S TIZZY (Tiznow) in the Belmont
"A lot of people have said Hard Spun is not going to the lead. He's been
(naturally quicker) than our horse so far. I don't want to get into any kind of
speed duel. Hard Spun is fast. People are saying Hard Spun will sit off of us,
but how do they know we're going to the lead?"
—Fox on where he
thinks his horse will be in relation to Hard Spun
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