Any Given Saturday's stirring charge only to fall the barest of noses short to 2006 juvenile male champion Street Sense in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) certainly ranks as one of the most exciting finishes on this year's Triple Crown trail. Any Given Saturday lost valuable ground when he had to go wide around the final turn while Street Sense saved ground and found a lane nearest the rail for his final run. While Street Sense's tenacity can't be discounted, particularly in view of the fact that he set a track record of 1:43.11 for the 1 1/16-mile distance, it leaves unanswered the question of whether Any Given Saturday might have collared Street Sense with a better trip.

The bigger question is, how much did the race take out of both of the colts?

Trainer Todd Pletcher reported several days after the Tampa Bay Derby that Any Given Saturday had come out of the race in good order and that the race apparently did not take that much out of the colt.

In defeat, Any Given Saturday gained a lot of admirers, not the least of which was Street Sense's trainer, Carl Nafzger.

"I've said a thousand times [Street Sense] is a helluva colt, as is Any Given Saturday, as I told Todd [Pletcher]," Nafzger said. "I congratulated him. Of all the three-year-olds that have come along, except for Breeders' Cup horses, his horse is about the best. He really ran his race. I hand it to Todd. I still think [Any Given Saturday is] one of the best horses in the crop."

Nafzger is taking Street Sense to the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) for his final Kentucky Derby (G1) prep.

"I hear Any Given Saturday is going to the Blue Grass," Nafzger said. "I wish to hell he'd go somewhere else."

Nafzger got his wish ten days before the Blue Grass when trainer Todd Pletcher decided Any Given Saturday might have a slightly easier spot in the April 7 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) after deciding not to run Circular Quay in that race.

But Any Given Saturday failed to duplicate his Tampa Bay Derby charge in the Wood, finishing third behind winner Nobiz Like Shobiz.

"He stumbled a little out of the gate," jockey John Velazquez said. "He just acted different today. Halfway around the first turn I was able to drop behind the horses and save a little ground. He had a lot to do, getting pushed out on the first turn. I had to go sooner than I wanted to at the half-mile pole to get up with him. He ran a really hard race at Tampa. With his trip today, it was just a lot to ask."

Recent Works

April 22 - Five furlongs handily in :58.80 at Keeneland Race Course (all weather track).

Future Plans

While trainer Rodd Pletcher was understandable disappointed in the third-place finish in the Wood Memorial (G1), the Kentucky Derby (G1) remains on the agenda. "Maybe the three weeks off got to him, but I still believe [Any Given Saturday] is a good horse," Pletcher said. "He should have got enough earnings to secure a position in the Kentucky Derby. We got the four weeks off between races we wanted, and the earnings, but we will have to step up a notch to get it done."

Quotable

WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden, who added an allowance victory by Any Given Saturday on October 19 to his short list of memorable races:

"It was just the way that he did it--he made this Arazi-type move around the turn that gave me chills."

Pat Lang photo

The largest ship I have seen in Southampton water is the Hyundai Tencity at over 140,000 tonnes.

A few Oak leaves continue to hang on.. this one at water's edge seen yesterday on my morning walk.

arriving at Ryde

The Kia Niro, our latest European concept car, is set to be unveiled at the 65th Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt next week. Featuring an innovative new powertrain, it hints at a possible future B-segment contender ready to take on the urban environment with style and tenacity. Read more about it here… and tell us what you think of it! bit.ly/19gYX2a