Can Street Sense be beaten today?

Question

If so... who's going to win the Travers? I think Street Sense has it, hands down, but I'd like to see other opinions.

Answer 1

Street Sense has it beat!! The only one who can slow him down is Grasshopper! Although he hasn't been in a graded stakes race, he's still pretty tough! Plus he has Robby Albarado aboard (Preakness rematch!)

Answer 2

If you look at Street Sense this year, he wins a race then comes in a close second in his next race.  He beat Any Given Saturday, then came second by a nose when four horses hit the line together in the Bluegrass.  He wins the Kentucky Derby then battles with Curlin to the finish of the Preakness to come in second.  He won the Jim Dandy by daylight, so the pattern suggests that this will be a pretty close race.  As for who has a chance to beat him, I'd say Sightseeing is the biggest threat...  Carl Nafzger said it himself.

I think Grasshopper and Loose Leaf are the most interesting horses in the race.  Loose Leaf isn't really consistent, but he is certainly improving...  he wasn't doing well in the minor stakes to start this year, so they backed him up to an allowance which he won and then he went on to win the Lemon Drop Kid in his last start...  But against a Kentucky Derby winner, I really don't see him doing much.  Grasshopper has 2 wins, a place, and a show this year...  but against who?  Maidens and allowance horses.  Making the step up to stakes is often difficult for a horse and this horse is jumping all the way up to a Grade I.  But the horse has always been in the money...  he doesn't really know how to lose.  It might help him battle on in this race even though the competition is better.

I think that Street Sense is the best horse in the field whether he wins or loses, but it's very possible for him to lose today...  After all, Saratoga is known to be the downfall of the heavy chalk.

Right now, I'm gonna say Street Sense, Sightseeing, Grasshopper, CP West...  but I won't make my final decision until I see the horses warm up before the race.

Answer 3

Street Sense sure looks tough, but anything can happen in a horse race. If there's an upset today, I'll say it will be by Sightseeing.