2007 Horse of the Year - Curlin
Majority owner Jess Jackson announced today that 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin is headed back to the dirt after a game effort on grass in the Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont Park. The colt will now point to the Woodward Handicap on August 30. Jackson had indicated earlier in the week that a major announcement regarding Curlin’s next move was pending today and the entire horse racing world was waiting with baited breath to see where the colt would be pointed.
After getting beat by former Breeder’s Cup Turf champion Red Rocks in the Man O’ War, Curlin was listed in the Daily Racing Form as the 3rd best U.S. Turf male. The Man O’ War itself was even mentioned as the “best U.S. turf race of the year so far.” Moreover, Jackson had recently asked the public for input on a poll on the Stonestreet Farms website, with 50% of folks chiming in that Curlin deserved another chance on the grass.
So what is the big plan now? Well, obviously the Arc seems out of the question with a move back to dirt. I can only guess that the Japan Cup might be the ultimate goal. Unless something changes between now and October, I can’t imagine he’ll be headed to the synthetics in the Breeder’s Cup.
For those watching TVG – Rich Perloff indicated that my good friend Ron Correll who was in attendance today indicated that Jackson suggested that Curlin’s turf campaign actually wasn’t over, and that we’ll possibly see Curlin return next year as a 5-year-old. My advice is to stay tuned in to everything Ron and company churn out over at tracksideview. Personally I subscribe to their updates via email and I strongly encourage other fans to do the same.
All of this Curlin talk coupled with Big Brown’s victory in the Haskell on Sunday seems to have brought back the old Rick Dutrow and reignited the Curlin vs Big Brown talk. Ah, good ole Dutrow – That non-loveable ass of a trainer who manages to offend nearly every fan of the game whenever he speaks. Dutrow was quoted earlier today as saying:
“Curlin couldn’t win the Derby, we could,” Dutrow said. “Curlin couldn’t win (the Haskell), we could. Curlin got beat (by) a filly. We haven’t. Our horse is undefeated on the grass. Curlin isn’t. I don’t know why people think Curlin is such a good horse. We’re way better than Curlin.”
Here’s a clue, Dickey boy – Curlin has defeated champion caliber horses, and done so with ease. He slaughtered what some had called the most competitive field ever assembled in the Breeder’s Cup Classic and then went overseas and won the world’s richest dirt race, all the while making it look easy.
Your colt, Big Brown, who I do think highly of, has a couple of good races under his belt – but against whom? Let’s not delude ourselves and think that the longshot front runner your horse was all out to catch is anything like the horses Curlin has battled with. Once again you choose to make an under-the-belt filly reference about Rags to Riches in the Belmont. I wonder, Dickey, if we could shove your comments down your bloated mouth if we ever see Zenyatta go against your horse. I think anyone watching the Haskell would agree she has a great shot of absolutely smoking your boy. I think your credit is dead around here anyway after your beloved 1/9 “lock” was pulled up in the Belmont. That’s two bad races in a row, Rick. It’s hard to even pretend you’re pleased with the Haskell effort. That was a joke of a race and your horse barely pulled it off.
The whole thing is just tragic. For a second there last week there were times when I actually felt like Dutrow might be coming around and turning human. Then of course there was his now famous “not good for Dutrow” comment when IEAH Stables owner Michael Iavarone called him to take the horses away.
So where does this leave us? It’s as if someone has let a child into a room full of adults. A child that is starving for attention and relevance. Big Brown made a good run at the Triple Crown, but he does not belong (at least from anything we’ve seen thus far) being mentioned in the same breath as the great ones some are willing to compare him to. Curlin, on the other hand, is knocking on the door of history and could shatter Cigar’s all-time earnings record for a U.S. thoroughbred before summer is out.
Anyone else get the feeling that Dutrow’s running a smear campaign trying to talk his horse into a “Horse of the Year” award? I’ve got news for you again, Dick – the only way to that title is right through Curlin, so go and face him in the Woodward if you’re man enough.
Actually, on second thought, judging from the condition your horse seemed to be in as he labored through the Monmouth stretch, do us all a favor and retire him before something tragic happens.
“the only way to that title is right through Curlin”
If BB wins the Derby/Preakness/Haskell/Super Dby/BCC and Curlin fails to win a BC race then the voters probably weigh in favor of the former. IMO the connections of Curlin ought to be more worried about Frost Giant (also trained by Dutrow) showing up for the Woodward/JCGC/JCD. There’s nothing wrong with Dutrow stumping for his horse so long as he keeps to the current calendar year.
Of course the Arl Million is a marquee race and Curlin won’t be there so America won’t be seeing much of him. If the Euros dominate the Million I expect the Euro media would start politely dissing the connections of Curlin for not having the utmost confidence in their horse and I wouldn’t blame them after reading that fruitloops “planting the American flag” nonsense.
Great Title. Great piece.
Big Brown is all done. He won’t ever beat top caliber horses again. Curlin would destory him, it wouldn’t even be a race.
I don’t see any possible way Curlin will ever be defeated on the dirt again if he runs like himself. So in my opinion he pretty much has Horse Of The Year locked up a second time. Big Brown won the Haskell but in a very ordinary way, there was no crushing move ont he turn this time. Curlin always wins with brilliance, and utter domination.
Jackson seemed pretty interested in going to the Japan Cup when he was addressing the press. It sounds like their going for the Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and then the Japan Cup. He made it sound extremely doubtfull of a Breeders Cup running.
I’m so glad he didn’t rule out a five year old campaign. If they want to try turf again the best thing to do would be to turn 2009 into a turf campaign.
Agh! Curlin Madness outbreak! Kevin, you’re just making things worse.
kevin whos playing dodge ball now ? curlin connections are going to avoid bc classic the second most important race in the world because its on rubber track. they want to be reconized as 1 of the best ever he needs to compete on synthenthec also he has turf breeding which adheres well to rubber. japan journeys by american horses are almost always a disaster. good luck curlin…………..GLC
Why are the connections afraid of syn surface? —Was is because of Pyro
mishap……Look, Curlin is a special horse–I firmly beleive he would love
it……. let the horse of the year go for it…….They are on the defense, thinking
The horse of the year would regress….I say–Put him in the gate…
I think the Pyro thing has something to do with it. Honestly we’ve seen a lot of the best horses look nondescript running on synthetics. He’s trained on it before, but that’s not the same as racing.
Hey, if Big Brown’s the super horse that Dutrow thinks he is – go to the Woodward and meet Curlin. Of course we all know that isn’t the plan and won’t happen, but it’s not like they couldn’t do it if they weren’t serious.
I’m kind of hoping he does go to Japan. I’ve never been out of the country and that’s one of the places on top of my short list.
kevin if they only run good on dirt not turf or synthetic then they are not the best horses. i think he would do well on rubber track and its the future of racing if keenland does it all will do it soon. again i sound like i`m bashing him but its the humans involved that need to step back and access where there loyalty stands they live and make there $$$$$$$$ in america and they want to go to japan or france?????? let the horse prove hes the most versitle champion ever. see you in LA curlin………..GLC
I think the jury is still out on synthetics personally, but in the long run you’re probably right. The thing is, when your biggest challenge/threat is the surface of the track and not the horses you are facing, I think it’s fine to look overseas. Racing is HUGE in Japan. We might be wise to take some lessons from them to help revive the sport over here.
But I can’t lie – I just want him to do whatever it takes to win Horse of the Year again and be healthy. If someone else does get it, Zenyatta would be a nice consolation.
i love talking about the good ones but the money made by handicappers is on 12.5 claimers and change of vinue horses and surface moves. the best are mostly chalk or crap shoots when the best meet on bc cup day or now days……GLC
Know what’s funny? I used to be really good at picking claiming races when I first started out – mainly for the reasons you mention – it’s all about change at the claiming ranks. Who’s stretching out for the first time? Who hasn’t had blinkers? Who’s going 2 turns now? I used to live off those races and never be able to hit the Stakes.
Lately I’ve turned into a chalk man. Stakes will do that to you. I should’ve focused on the Claiming Crown last week. Looks like there was some money to be won there.
kevin; as you know i am a 37 year player. my first win was on my first day at the old longacres track in seattle. i lost the first 8 races just looking at a program and listening to my old pro friends. the feature was coming up the longacres mile. i asked one of my buddys what that newspaper was. he said it was the form and started to show me what all the lines were all about. i saw a form someone had left in the row in front of use. i snached it up and started looking at it. i came across a horse from argentina that had run once at the acres and had not done very well. in previous races in his home country he won most of his races but all his races had a t with a circle around the t. confused i asked my buddy what that ment. he said it was on grass not dirt. i asked what grass was like and he said like a good dirt track well i looked at the tote and the track was listed good. with my new knowledge i went to the window with my last 25$ and bet auriliuos 2. at 7/1. he of course won for fun.
after that i have always looked for horses doing something different. long story but it has brought me much pleasure for a long time…….GLC
I LOVE hearing stories like that Gerald. Thanks for sharing. If I can ask you a personal question – with 37 years of experience, what’s the single most important thing you think the sport can do to attract a new generation of fans?
My first win came when I was 16 I believe. The Fair Hill Races (steeplechase) on Memorial Day weekend. I had no idea what I was doing, but bet a 10/1 longshot (you almost never get prices like that anymore as the fields are half-scratched) and laid the entire $20 I had to my name on him. When he hit, I thought I was the richest man in the world. Beginner’s luck, I suppose, but I was hooked. I kind of lost track of the sport for a few years, but then an old work friend and a new boss (both of whom actually comment here semi-regularly) entered my life and the rest was history. I was all about horse racing and thirsting for more information.
Isn’t it amazing how far you’ve come now since that day when the turf symbol was foriegn to you – and yet we’ve all had that moment. I remember vividly trying to explain to someone what a furlong was when I hadn’t a clue myself (but wanted to sound like I did).
kevin were do i start;
a—no more drugs except lasix.
b— monitor trainers better there are some obvious cheaters out there.
c—lift the weight limits for jocks lets keep them healthy
d— no 2 year old racing until july or horse is a full 2 years old.
e—make all tracks use the same betting patterns example is NY they do to much to hinder exotic betting must be 8 for super and 6 for tri that ridcules.
f— most important we need a commisioner to implement the changes
comment; we do all we can to keep horses in good health but we need to explain to the public that bad things that are impossible to predict will and are going to happen. we try to prevent them but they just happen 8 belles tried to hard and it ended in disaster. know one knew she was going to have that happen. i saw the same thing with the filly go for wand she just got destroyed by bayakoa. bayokoa sat on her hip all the way and when she went up to pass go for wand reached out to far and broke down. but she was doing all she could to beat the other horse. is`nt that what we do in life is extend ourselves to the limit for sucess. anybody know how to spell sucess. lol …..GLC
kevin i would write a book if i could just spell.
kevin in reviewing your question i missed your point. look at emerald downs through great commercials and exellent events like fireworks on the3rd of july face painting for kids pony rides it brings young parents to the track .
they are relenthless in these promotions and drive them home well. we see lots of young people at emerald downs. i know several people on the staff at emerald they all love the races and work very hard to keep it fresh.
also they cater to banquets at the track and have great buffets in a very nice banquet room. they know how to promote horse racing. the new commisioner would do well to take good long look at emerald…….GLC
Well said about Dutrow and his benevolence, it is amazing to me the comadres I have found on the Thoroughbred Blog Alliance. It is driving me crazy this desire to shut him up or prove him wrong or something! I feel sorry for him, in the sense that he has to put Curlin down to put Big Brown up. Big Brown does not deserve it and of course nor does Curlin. What a jerk.
@Gerald – wonderful stuff. Sorry it took me so long to reply. Thursday was crazy for me and Friday figures to be even crazier. I really appreciate your insight on this. Trying to come up with some ideas that can be turned into initiatives. I agree with everything you stated. Sounds like I need to get up to Emarald Downs.
@libby – It’s tough for me. On the one hand I really do like Big Brown the horse. I think he is a special horse and has the ability to be a great one. As a fan of the sport I hope we haven’t yet seen his best performance. The trouble is Dutrow. It’s impossible to root for anything associated with him. He’s just too insanely pompous. I know his defenders always swear he’s a good guy, but I’ve heard enough of his comments and seen enough of his interviews to form a different assessment. There’s absolutely no reason for him to blathering about such things. Lord, how I wish IEAH had followed through and taken the horses from him. Hopefully other parternships will think twice before having this guy represent them.
All- probably won’t be able to get in a Friday night post tonight. Have company coming tomorrow and a ton of yardwork/housework to do. I’m probably not even playing Del Mar tonight (I know, blasphemy!).
But, this weekend looks like a good one, so I’ll have a bunch of stuff up by Saturday Morning provided I haven’t passed out on the floor somewhere from exhaustion.
kevin; thank you for the kind words i can`t describe what pleasures horse racing have brought to me. the math the reasoning the utter expectations are the best rush you can have. its taught some very important life lessons. furthermore i don`t know of any serious horseplayer developing alsimers. handicapping keeps your mind busy. GLC
That’s a great point, Gerald. I’ve run into folks before who are older and still handicap even though they don’t bet. They say it keeps the mind sharp. I’m convinced it does as well. It’s like a more exciting version of crossword puzzles.
I really appreciate you sharing those personal experiences with us.
[...] months I’ve been blasting back at Dutrow whenever he’s made a classless comment about defending 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin. I [...]