Curlin trounces Foster field to pass $9 million 16 Jun 2008
Neither lugging far more weight than his nine adversaries nor a disadvantageous trip while boxed on the rail could stop Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) winner Curlin on Saturday.
Making his first start since capturing the globe’s richest race on March 29, Curlin overcame obstacles that might have stopped most horses to cruise to a handy 4 ¼-length victory in the US$1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs.
Not only did he more than live up to his ranking as the world’s best racehorse, he showed that traveling all the way to Dubai and back took nothing out of him.
“Great, phenomenal,” winning jockey Robby Albarado declared after the race. “He’s an amazing horse. With his routine brilliance, he is in textbook form. He’s showing that he’s a superstar."
Breaking from post position one on a hot and humid day, Curlin was immediately trapped on the rail as Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) graduate Barcola jumped to the lead under Jesus Castanon. With Sam P. ranging up beside Curlin and pinning him to the inside, America’s 2007 Horse of the Year had no choice but to be patient.
On a day when most fractional times had been slow even though the dirt track was rated fast, Barcola set pedestrian fractions of :25.01, :49.28 and 1:13.41 and appeared dangerous as he maintained a clear lead after six furlongs.
But once the field swung through the far turn and Sam P. dropped back, Curlin found an opening outside Barcola and quickly moved forward. Feeling Albarado’s whip once, Curlin powered away from Barcola, who ran on gallantly to just be nosed out for second by multiple Grade 1 turf winner Einstein. Grasshopper finished fourth after rearing at the break, while 2006 Dubai World Cup competitor Brass Hat was fifth.
Running the final furlong in :12.29, Curlin cruised under the wire in 1:49.68 for the 1 1/8 miles, an admirable time considering the slow fractions and the fact that he carried 128 pounds, giving from ten to 15 pounds to the other runners. With the winner’s share of the purse $589,000, Curlin became only the third horse in North American history to pass the $9-million mark in career earnings.
Majority owner Jess Jackson believes the best still may be yet to come from the robust chestnut son of Smart Strike.
“What he stands for is a classic champion and we’ll see how great he is because he is not fully defined yet,” said Jackson, who campaigns under the banner of Stonestreet Stables.
“It’s such an honor to be involved with this horse—he is such a beautiful animal,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. "I’m so thankful to Mr. Jackson and the whole Stonestreet group and (co-owner) Midnight Cry Stables to bring him back as a four-year-old and just let us enjoy him.”
Neither Asmussen nor Jackson would say specifically what might be next for Curlin, although they have nominated him to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) on turf. With his career bankroll now standing at $9,396,800, he is approaching 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away’s $9,616,360 and Cigar’s record of $9,999,815.
