Did you think Curlin would win?

Question

I thought Hard Spun or Street Sense would take home the trophy, not Curlin. What's your take?

Answer 1

I was one of the few  people I think that believed in Curlin over the other horses.  If you watch his previous races, he always would be in the front, or would make a big stretch run and decimate the field.  I still think he would have won the derby if he hadn't run into all the traffic he had, and if he would have had a better post position.  

Yes, I would have liked a triple crown this year like everyone else,  but undeniably Curlin is a great horse to have stumbled out of the starting gate in the Preakness, get passed by Street Sense, and then rally towards the end to get ahead by a nose.  

What bothers me the most is after his win the media was focusing their attention on Street Sense and his jockey, but not on Curlin where it should have been.  You didn't get to see the ceremony with the flowers around his neck, just the horse going back to the barn.

I know the Preakness isn't on quite the same level as the derby, but I can guarantee that if Street Sense had won instead, all the focus would have been on him and how he might be the next triple crown winner.  Hopefully he, Curlin, and Hard Spun will return to the Belmont, where I have faith Curlin will beat Street Sense again.  Maybe then this horse will get the respect he deserves.

Here is a link to the derby website where you can see his previous three career victories before the derby.

Answer 2

I thought it would be StreetSense or Hard Spun myself, but Curlin also figured with additional improvement.  And note that he won despite being "green" is various stages of the race.

Answer 3

I really thought Street Sense would take the Preakness by running on the rail! I mean that's why Calvin is called Bo-rail!!!! But yeah I thought Street Sense would make it!! Curlin's a good horse and I thought he would actually come in maybe second in the Derby!!!

Answer 4

no i don't think so

Answer 5

I do now!!!

Answer 6

I had no idea but that was an exciting race.

Answer 7

I picked him along with Street Sense and Hard Spun for exactas and trifectas in both the Derby and Preakness - Good wins.

Answer 8

Yes I did. He didn't get a good trip in the Derby, yet still managed to come in third. I felt with the smaller Preakness field, he'd be able to run his race.