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Street Sense is Preakness-bound
HARD SPUN just missed becoming the first son of Danzig to take the Derby, setting the pace under Mario Pino in the Run for the Roses off a six-week break and a bullet :57 3/5 five-furlong move just four days before the main event. Trainer Larry Jones said his charge ate up well and was doing fine a day after his stellar runner-up effort. "He had been touting us that he would (run a huge race)," he said. "We'd been taking a lot of criticism for the six-week layoff. People thought there was something wrong with the horse that we wouldn't run him. Then, after the work, everyone said the cowboy done blew it, but good horses work fast if they like what they're getting over." Jones was happy with his pupil's effort and is looking forward to a rematch with Street Sense in the Preakness. "You'd think I could have gotten a little help from those 15 jockeys between me and Street Sense and close that rail down," he said only half-jokingly. "We had always said earlier this year that if the good classic fairy was to come by and tell us that we were going to win one of the legs of the Triple Crown this year, we would have probably had to feel like the Preakness was our best shot. No (son of) Danzig had ever won the Kentucky Derby, but they've won the Preakness and they've won the Belmont. "It'll be Mario's home track. This (Churchill) is Calvin's home track, but we're going to Pino country." Jones believes that the top three Derby finishers will all be fresh for the Preakness. "We still got a relatively fresh horse -- that's the main reason we didn't want (another) prep coming into the Derby," Jones continued. "The bad thing is Carl was thinking the same thing. That's the reason he's only wanted two preps for his horse. He has a fresh horse, and actually Curlin (Smart Strike) should be pretty fresh." CURLIN, third in the Derby, and stablemate ZANJERO (Cherokee Run), who finished 12th, both came out of their respective efforts in good order, according to conditioner Steve Asmussen. "The winner (Street Sense), as well as the second-place finisher (Hard Spun), all ran exceptional races," he said. "Under the circumstances, for (Curlin) to get up and run third was an excellent effort for him. If he comes out of the race well, we'll have some very nice races in his future. The assessment is I'm proud of the horse." Curlin entered the Derby undefeated from just three career starts, including a 10 1/2-length score in the Arkansas Derby (G2). "I think that was the toughest circumstances that any horse could incur," said Asmussen, referring to Curlin's closing from 14th after breaking slowly and being steadied early. "You're not going to throw a tougher circumstance than the Derby at him from here forward. The Derby cannot be re-created." Asmussen hasn't committed Curlin to the Preakness, but is considering the 1 3/16-mile test. "We'll wait and take him back to the track and then speak with all the owners involved and make a decision." The trainer isn't sure what's in Zanjero's immediate future. Trainer Bill Kaplan was more than happy with IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY's (Wild Event) fourth in the Derby, especially considering the gray gelding barely made it into the race. The sophomore closed from last in the 20-horse field to take fourth by a half-length and is now bound for the Belmont S. (G1). "He ran just like I expected," Kaplan said. "I've been saying that he has the best cardiovascular system you'll find. He really needs 2 1/2 miles, but we'll have to settle for a mile and a half at Belmont Park (on June 9)." Imawildandcrazyguy will ship back to his Calder home base Monday, and will head to New York a week before the Belmont. He'll be accompanied to Calder by stablemate STORM IN MAY (Tiger Ridge), who exited his Derby 16th-place finish with cuts on his left hind leg. "(Storm in May) got some cuts when the pony jumped on (him) in the post parade," Kaplan said. "They're not too deep and they didn't require any stitches." According to Kaplan, Storm in May is headed back to the turf, over which he's spent nearly half his career. SEDGEFIELD (Smart Strike) and fellow Darrin Miller trainee DOMINICAN (El Corredor) came out of their respective fifth and 11th-place finishes in good shape. "Both horses seem to be OK this morning," Miller confirmed. "I will know more in a couple of days. The day after it is always a little tough to tell, but so far they look to be all right. "I think Sedgefield had a great trip and ran a great race," he said of his charge's dirt debut. "He certainly answered the dirt question. Dominican had some scope issues that didn't help us. I don't know if the post (19) killed me so much. Going into the first turn it didn't look like he was liking the dirt in his face real well." Miller added that both will get a little break and then he'll sit down and plan their future targets. As for Sedgefield's possibly going to the Preakness, Miller's not ready to close the door completely. "Today, I'd have to say no, but you can't rule anything out," the horseman said. Trainer Todd Pletcher had five bullets in trying to take his first Derby, but his best showing came with CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) in sixth. His other entrants were ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor) (eighth), SAM P. (Cat Thief) (ninth), SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg) (18th) and COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor) (20th). "Everybody is in pretty good shape this morning," Pletcher said "Everyone that ran Saturday will go to New York (Belmont Park) on Monday, except for Sam P., who will stay to probably run in the (June 16) Northern Dancer (Breeders' Cup [G3])." Pletcher already has a horse readying for the Preakness in King of the Roxy (Littleexpectations), who worked at Keeneland Sunday morning. "He will be on the same plane to New York on Monday and then go to Pimlico on the Thursday before the Preakness," the conditioner said. "At this point, I haven't really decided on any of those horses that ran yesterday. I will get them back home and look at them, but I would say those that ran yesterday are doubtful (for the Preakness)." TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) will ship back to trainer John Shirreffs' Southern California base on Monday after his seventh in the Derby. The trainer is looking at the race as a learning experience for his charge. "(Jockey) Mike (Smith) was very enthusiastic yesterday when he came back and unsaddled," Shirreffs said. "The horse is still a little green, lacks experience. Mike was having to ask him to run when he was supposed to be running on his own. And he was running on his own when he was supposed to settle. He was doing it backwards. He lacked a little experience, but he should learn a lot from the experience (in the Derby)." Shirreffs added that Tiago will skip the Preakness but he's not yet sure about the Belmont. NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great), 10th in the Derby, came out of his race well, according to Derek Sturniolo, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. Sturniolo added that the bay colt would head for New York on Monday. GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude) and LIQUIDITY (Tiznow) ran 13th and 14th, respectively, for trainer Doug O'Neill, who said they were well the day after the race. "Both of my horses came back fantastic," O'Neill said. "They will ship back to California on Monday and I will talk to (owner J.) Paul (Reddam) and get a game plan going." BWANA BULL (Holy Bull), 15th in the Derby, will head back to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's Northern California base on Monday, while 19th-place runner STORMELLO (Stormy Atlantic) will ship to his home base in Southern California for conditioner Bill Currin. TEUFLESBERG (Johannesburg) was doing better than his trainer Jamie Sanders a day after running 17th in the Derby. "My horse is fine, but the trainer is tired," said Sanders, who added that the Preakness is still on the table. "We will see how he is in the next couple of days and see how the field is shaping up there and then make a decision. I always thought the Preakness would be his game, so we will see how he is doing and if he is doing well, it would be a good possibility."
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