Street Sense withdrawn from Belmont

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 31 (UPI) -- Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up, is being withheld from the Belmont Stakes, the third Triple Crown race.

Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger said Thursday that he and horse owner Jim Tafel decided to concentrate on the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes.

"We've got plenty of time to go anywhere we want," Nafzger said. "He's been amazing. He's taken us to every race and he'll take us to these races."

Street Sense has won two of his four starts this year. He's piled up $3.1 million in winnings in nine career races and was voted last year's champion 2-year-old after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

He was given a good chance at the Triple Crown after wending through 19 horses to post a 2 1/4-length win at the Kentucky Derby. But Street Sense lost by a head to Curlin in the Preakness.

The scratching of Street Sense leaves the Belmont with five probable starters, including Curlin and Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness third-place finisher Hard Spun. The other likely entries are Tiago, Slew's Tizzy and Imawildandcrazyguy.