Street Sense handlers right to skip Belmont

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will not run in the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

But rather than boo trainer Carl Nafzger and owner Jim Tafel, I tip my hat to them. They had the courage to make the best choice for their horse despite how unpopular it may be.

Street Sense had a four-race campaign this spring. Now he’ll get a short rest before a four-race schedule this summer. He probably will run in the Jim Dandy or Haskell, the Travers and one prep race leading to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Nowadays for a Grade I horse to run in eight stakes in one year is considered a Herculean task. So don’t think Street Sense is taking the easy way out.

This sets up an interesting scenario in the Belmont. I think Hard Spun, with new rider Garrett Gomez, has a tactical edge over Preakness winner Curlin. If Hard Spun can pull an upset in the Belmont, a possible historic meeting of three Triple Crown race winners could occur in the Haskell or Travers.

The last time that happened was in the 1982 Travers, when Gato del Sol (Derby), Aloma’s Ruler (Preakness) and Conquistador Cielo (Belmont) met. They were upset by Runaway Groom.

I will not argue with the way Street Sense, Curlin and Hard Spun have been handled. The trio have blossomed to the top of the division and, we could see them square off again in a rematch at Monmouth Park or Saratoga.

Their rivalry is good for horse racing. And as fans of the sport, we are begging for great horses like these to run in great races, and with longer careers.

• QUIGLEY PREVAILS — Congratulations to Horseplayer Magazine publisher Tom Quigley for winning the South Point Open handicapping tournament last weekend.

The next big Las Vegas tournament will be the Gold Coast Summer Classic from July 26 to 28.

• MAN VS. BEAST — Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Chad Johnson will race against a horse at River Downs in Cincinnati on June 9, with proceeds going to the Feed the Children charity.

The horse will break from the eighth pole and Johnson from the sixteenth pole.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.