Digger?!?! Bad news for Hard Spun

[letswastemoney]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/85475.html

Digger in Belmont since Street Sense is out
By DAVID GRENING

ELMONT, N.Y. - Like most racing fans, Larry Roman was hugely disappointed when he learned that Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense would not be running in the Belmont Stakes.

As a horse owner, Roman feels compelled to do something about it. So, he plans on running his newly acquired 3-year-old Digger in next Saturday's $1 million Belmont against Preakness winner Curlin and Derby runner-up Hard Spun. Digger, purchased by Roman about five weeks ago for $60,000 from William Wise, is a Maryland-bred gelded son of Yonaguska who has won 2 of 8 starts.

Digger, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., was entered in Saturday's Spend a Buck Stakes at Monmouth Park, but Roman said the horse will be scratched out of that race.

While Digger has little chance to be there at the finish, Roman did say the horse will make his presence felt early on the race.

"We're going to be on the lead," Roman said. "If Hard Spun goes at us he's going to be going 44 [seconds] for the first four furlongs. He better take back and not move early like he did in the Preakness. It'll cost him the race. I have a lot of respect for Hard Spun, but I think it's a race we can control. Do I expect to win? No. Are we going to try? You bet your ass."