Barn notes: Globalize looking for some luck for a change By Marc Connolly ABC Sports Online ELMONT, N.Y. -- No bets are safe when it comes to horse racing. Just ask Neil Drysdale. But if they posted odds on how close the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Globalize will come in contact to other colts during prep for Saturday's Belmont Stakes, they'd go off at around 1-10.
It takes a brave man to say he's using the prestigious Belmont Stakes to "prep" for the Travers Stakes in August, but Carl Nafzger has never exactly been the most predictable trainer. After waffling all spring over the schedule of his Lexington Stakes winner, Unshaded, he finally deemed his bay colt ready for the Belmont once both Fusaichi Pegasus and Red Bullet were nothing but a memory from the Triple Crown circuit. Now, he is downplaying the third jewel just two days before it goes off. "Our main objective is the Travers," said Nafzger, a trainer of more than 50 stakes winners. "This race is a big race, so what we see here will help us build and prepare for it." The only reason the 58-year-old trainer is here this week is because of the drastic turnaround he saw in his horse at the Peter Pan, where he finished second behind Postponed. "It was a 180-degree turn," said Nafzger, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1990 with Unbridled. "This race wasn't even in the schedule ? The last 40 yards of the Peter Pan were the most encouraging. He really tightened his bounce." Throwing his hat into the Triple Crown ring didn't become a definite until he saw what went on between Unshaded and esteemed jockey Shane Sellers, who had the mount for Nafzger's Vicar in last year's Derby. "There was such communication between Shane and Unshaded," said Nafzger, as though he was describing a young couple after their first date. "He [Unshaded] was focused and relaxed, waiting and listening to Shane. Anything Shane wanted him to do, he did." He couldn't think of any reasons not to enter the Belmont at that point. "Put it this way, I'm the idiot that advised [owner] Mr. [James] Tafel to put the money up," Nafzger said of the $100,000 supplement Tafel needed to pay to enter the colt in Saturday's race. But with a bad showing here, who says Tafel will make the same decision for the Travers? The "Giant Killer" lurks You never know who you're going to find milling about the track with a major event looming in the days ahead. But it's not often you find a 71-year-old Hall of Fame trainer aboard a little filly riding around with the fanfare of a teenage exercise rider. That's what a few lucky souls encountered on Thursday morning when the legendary Allen Jerkens went out for a short ride. Forever known as "The Giant Killer" for pulling off numerous upsets, including two over Secretariat in 1973, over his 50-year career in horse racing, Jerkens' specialty has always been in endeavors not related to the Triple Crown. He generally seemed disinterested in Saturday's race. "It's never lackluster," said Jerkens of the Belmont, "but it's a shame certain horses aren't here." In a sport where owners and trainers are now strategizing as much as a National League manager, Jerkens remains from the old school. For one, he thinks trainers are afraid to make certain decisions today because of public scrutiny. He also believes horses are babied these days. "They're not as tough," said Jerkens, who ran Best of Luck in a rare Belmont Stakes appearance last year. "Real good horses feel better when you work them harder ? Horses are bred for the market these days, not by their original owners. They didn't baby them." Jerkens believes that one of the reasons so few horses run in all three Triple Crown races has a lot to do with the way they are handled as 2-year olds. "Years ago, you used to run your 2-year old every Sunday to give him experience," said Jerkens. Going Hollywood Chris Rock, Jack Nicholson and Bob Baffert? Yeah, that's what viewers must have been thinking when the Silver Fox was shown during NBC's telecast of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night when a "celebrity roll call" was made. Of course, Baffert is not in New York this week after bringing Captain Steve to the Derby and the Preakness. No Preakness repeat expected Weather-wise, the Belmont Stakes shouldn't resemble last month's Preakness in the least bit, according to local reports. While the Baltimore area was entrenched in clouds, non-stop mist and overall long-sleeve conditions, Saturday is expected to bring temperatures in the 90-degree range, complete with sunny skies on Long Island. |
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