The 2007 Horse of the Year, and winner of the Dubai World Cup by a record 7 3/4 lengths in his last start, the mighty Curlin is back in action churning out official workouts at Churchill Downs.
Source: http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=32731
Several weeks ago, trainer Steve Asmussen had hinted that Curlin was pointing to the Stephen Foster at Churchill on June 14. So far it’s been hard to find any challengers that want a piece of him. This isn’t very surprising considering the way we’ve seen Curlin defeat the last 3 fields he’s faced with relative ease. He ran away with the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Monmouth in the slop last October, then took a prep race at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai without being asked seriously. His win in the Dubai World Cup on March 29 proved that he is the top dirt horse in the world.
I know many are longing for a potential showdown with Big Brown after the Triple Crown races. Heck, I even kidded with one of Big Brown’s owners on Preakness Day that we needed a match race between the two. I doubt we’ll ever see them face off as I remain convinced that Big Brown will retire after the Belmont. Hopefully I’m wrong about that, and recent comments from Big Brown’s trainer have folks thinking he may stick around for the Travers and the Classic.
Curlin, on the other hand, still has yet to race here in the U.S. where his adoring fans await him as the defending Horse of the Year. I had mentioned before that I’d go anywhere he made his return. God willing I’ll try to do just that. It’s a long car ride to Kentucky from Pennsylvania, but just how many chances to see my favorite colt of all-time will there be after this? Rumor has Curlin avoiding the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Santa Anita altogether due to the synthetic surface, and instead pointing towards races in France and Japan – races which could ultimately be his swan song before being retired as a stud.
I couldn’t help but think of Curlin as I stood watching Big Brown prevail in the Preakness two weeks ago. The idea that we had been blessed with the privilege of watching these two wondrous animals work their magic right before our eyes in something we should all be thankful for. And we’d better be quick about, because in the blink of an eye they’ll disappear.
Before everything has faded to memories and grainy video footage of races-gone-bye, I’d like to stand a tip-toe once more, and rouse at the name of Curlin. Just once – and then I think I’ll be able to say my life has been complete. Just to see him make his move turning for home, looking his competition dead in the eye, and refusing to be denied the glory that he has thus far so nobly attained.
I think that’s what I love about him the most. He’s got the heart of a fighter in him. In just over one year’s time he’s given us a lifetime worth of memories:
- His jaw-dropping maiden victory
- His smashing of the Arkansas Derby field
- The moment he came alive in the Preakness to take on Street Sense
- Rallying to nail Lawyer Ron at the wire in the Jockey Club Gold Cup
- Tearing through the mud in the Classic on his way to “Horse of the Year” honors
- Toying with lesser competition in his prep race for the World Cup
- Surging past the best competition the world could muster in the World Cup
June 14th is a day I’m marking on my calendar, and so should all of you.
Unfortunately, these two giants may never meet, unless someone throws some big dough on a match race at Monmouth or the spa. There’s always that possibility and if that were to happen, we could be in for something really special. Let’s start the rumor after UPS run’s over the competition at Belmont. I’m thinking 12 length victory at the least. With Denis of Cork completing the exacta…
Now far as Curlin is concerned, I love this horse. BTW, how’s his stable pony Poncho Doing? Did you ever hear about Poncho in Dubai? Great story…
BMC
Oh yeah, that’s like his best friend! I heard Pancho was as big a star in Dubai as Curlin. He’s a gigantic 16 year-old quarterhorse, if I remember correctly. Big white horse.
I read somewhere that Curlin came back from the Dubai World Cup, where Pancho was waiting for him in the winner’s circle, and that they walked off the track together – almost like Curlin was sharing the victory with Pancho and saying “hey buddy, you deserve a piece of this for all we’ve been through.”
I’m telling you, Curlin was born to have a movie made of him. A definitive piece about a definitive horse.
Have I taught you nothing, grasshopper? You must link up each of those points with your coverage of the event.
Ah yes, good point Rain. I’ve edited now to include links back to my earlier posts. Trouble is, I wasn’t yet blogging for many of these when they originally happened (I started this blog right after the Breeder’s Cup Classic), but have recapped them in my many obsessive Curlin related posts.
I love reading the absolutely inane comments under the Youtube videos. Here are some for Curlin’s maiden race:
“Curlin is a good horse no doubt but he’s no Big Brown!!!”
“Never been the biggest fan of Curlin. I defiantly respect him, but he’s gonna be killed by Brownie if he even has the guts to show up at BC.”
“Big brown will make Curlin look just as stupid as every other horse he has ran against!!11″
Now that the eleven old racing fans have had their say, FINALLY someone with some sense puts in a word:
“Nice video of a great horse. Thanks for posting. I hope that Big Brown decides to go in the BCC so he gets his ass handed to him by Curlin.”
Thank God for the ownership dispute or whatever that kept them from retiring him. I HAVE to like him because he’s the only one left standing of last years great crop. *sigh* Now if only we could get more owners tangled up in similar dilemmas.
How fast time goes!! with just a blink!!
Oh yes, How i remember in early Feb, 2007 watching on video Curlin
wining his maiden.I watched it 30 times or so along with the Rebel and
Arkansas Derby. I was shocked he did’nt win the derby. But sometimes
racing luck just isn’t in the cards.But in the end he proved he was the best in 2007…..Jess Jackson knows Curlin is very special,and i think will take
a differn’t approach and take Curlin to France and perhaps Japan.Sucess
there would put Curlin in a select group—ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER—
Oh, for my money he is the best I’ve ever seen. Of course, I wasn’t around to see Secretariat, Man O’War, Cigar, or the other greats.
As far as Big Brown vs. Curlin – that nonsense is going to be the subject of my next post (I think). What madness. Put Curlin against the horses Big Brown has beat and imagine how impressive he’d look?
I’ve no doubt Big Brown is a solid horse who could give Curlin a run for his money, but the baffoonish comments from Rick Dutrow lately that are borderline slanderous of Curlin make me wish someone would give him a knuckle sandwich to munch on.
I loved Asmussen’s reply to Dutrow’s childish remarks where he pointed out that Dutrow’s “plan” for Big Brown calls for 2 more races against 3 year olds and then the BCC.
Keep in mind that Curlin was beaten 8 lengths in the Derby and lost the Belmont. So far his two best performances are par for a Gr-1 older horse but no better. I would be seriously impressed if his connections had to courage to point him to either the Arc (Longchamp) or Champion S (Newmarket) where the competition on turf is truly top class. I predict that Curlin will point to the Japan Cup Dirt at 10.5F his best distance. He probably won’t run anywhere he’s not odds-on so as to ring-up the easy money. As for the BB match race? Curlin is multiple lengths the better horse and the farther they run the better Curlin looks against him.
I agree Don, although I do think they will try him in the Arc over in France. I think the way they will see it is that if they lose, they can say it was on the grass. If he wins, it’s another notch in his belt. I don’t think they are scared of anyone, but what would there be to gain in a match race? Big Brown seems to have the more forwardly placed running style, which seems to prevail in match races.
Heck, run ‘em against each other in Dubai, where Dutrow can’t pump ‘em full of steroids.
I usually try and avoid this stuff, but Dutrow’s got me all fired up today.