THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

Another day, another installment of the ongoing Curlin/Big Brown drama.  Bloodhorse broke the story earlier today that Curlin’s majority owner Jess Jackson has issued a bit of a challenge, offering to pony up $50,000 from the Jackson Curlin for Kids Fund to the non-profit Belmont Child Care Association (Anna House) if IEAH Stables and trainer Rick Dutrow send Big Brown to face Curlin in the Woodward at Saratoga on August 30.

All of this makes for good water cooler discussion, of course, but is there really that much to see here?  After all, Big Brown is known to be seeking a turf race for his next effort at Belmont Park.  Not to be outdone, Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables has reportedly countered with a $250,000 charitable donation offer if Curlin comes to face Big Brown in the Breeder’s Cup Classic.

My take?  This appears to be just a bit of saber rattling.  I’m guessing that the frequent classless comments of trainer Rick Dutrow have started to wear on Jackson and company.  And why not? They’ve got the defending Horse of the Year and have shipped him around the world taking on the best they can find, except for that pesky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, while all the while fending off tasteless under-the-belt remarks from Dutrow.

In a perfect world we’d get the dream matchup of Big Brown and Curlin in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. We all know this, and we’ve all talked about it to death.  My sentiments remain that I”m not sure a run on the synthetic track at Santa Anita would be in Curlin’s best interest.  It seems there would not be a whole lot to gain and there would be much to lose for Curlin’s camp if the colt managed to look pedestrian on the artificial surface (as so many other good dirt horses have at locations like Keeneland). 

For Big Brown, however, there’s everything to gain with a victory in the Classic.  The horse is still dogged by criticism that he hasn’t really faced anyone, despite his visible brilliance in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, not to mention his run in the Florida Derby leading up to the Triple Crown.  A win in the Classic, ostensibly against top 3-year-oldsand older horses, would solidify the fact that he is the “real deal.”  In other words, Big Brown needs the Classic, Curlin doesn’t.  He’s been there, done that.

I know I’ve been over this stuff plenty of times.  In fact this all probably sounds a bit like a broken record.  I love both horses, but obviously I’m more of a Curlin fan than a Big Brown fan and always will be.  To me the perfect match between the two would be at the 1 1/4 mile distance on dirt, but not even the Woodward offers that as it is run at the 1 1/8 mile distance.  Add into the mix that there will always be concerns about Big Brown’s hooves and his overall health, especially coming off of his performance in the Haskell, and I think it’s easy to see that we probably won’t get this “dream matchup” unless some sort of miracle takes place.

Do I think it would be good for racing if they did lock horns?  No question about it.  Horse racing needs events that draw big crowds and capture the public’s attention and it goes without saying that the two biggest names in U.S. racing are Curlin and Big Brown.  Each horse is head and shoulders above their respective competition - with Curlin being the dominant older horse and Big Brown being the cream of the 3-year-old crop. 

My bottom line is this, it’s clear that each horse is headed in different directions apart from a still slightly possible showdown in the Classic.  As long as that is the case, I don’t really see the need for added drama from either camp at the moment.  I do feel for the Jackson contingent though as they have had to deal with salvo after salvo from the biggest bloviator in the sport (Dutrow), but the bottom line is this shouldn’t be about trying to upstage each other.  It should be about what’s best for the horses themselves.

To that end, I’m actually happy with the direction each camp is taking.  On Big Brown’s part, I think a return to turf would be good for the colt.  Make no mistake about it, I may not be a Dutrow fan, but this horse is a super star and dogged, determined competitor who I’d like to see race beyond his 3-year-old campaign. If the turf is softer on his feet and can lengthen his effective career, I”m all for it.   On Curlin’s part, while I originally voted to continue the turf experiment begun in the Man O’ War, I have to admit that getting back to his more comfortable dirt surface in the Woodward is probably exactly what the horse would prefer to do. 

In that sense, I’d like to see Curlin go out and win the Woodward in true champion style, and Big Brown go out and win his race that Belmont is currently putting together.  Then we can start talking about a potential showdown in the Classic (or not).  Until then, it’s all just talk, and while it provides great blogging banter for a guy like me, It’s nothing like a true showdown between the top horses in the nation.

Edit: 8/14/08 - the story that keeps on giving, indeed!  Now Jackson is challenging Big Brown to meet him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. 

Source:http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=34242&section=races