Horse racing needs its heroes. With the debacle of Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, the building anticipation for a potential showdown between a Triple Crown winner and the 2007 Horse of the Year seemingly went out the window. Instead, racing fans have been left with a head scratching defeat and a renewed appreciation that nothing is a given, no matter how lopsided it may appear on paper.
This Saturday’s running of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs appears no different. Curlin, for all of his freakish success, will be assigned the daunting challenge of carrying at least 10 pounds more than any of his competitors in the 1 1/8 mile race.
The list of competitors has grown in recent weeks to potentially include Grasshopper, Einstein, Jonesboro, Student Council and Delightful Kiss, among others. While Curlin will be carrying 128 pounds against these foes, he’s actually run at a higher weight (132) in his amazing victory in the Dubai World Cup on March 29.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has been quoted in the press as being concerned about the weight assignment – but has indicated that colt will need to show he can overcome such obstacles to keep marching triumphantly forward.
Personally, while I’m concerned about the weight assignment as a Curlin fan – I’m looking for the colt to come to the rescue of horse racing and re-establish himself as the sport’s biggest star. A few weeks ago the prospects for Curlin winning a second consecutive Horse of the Year award seemed bleak when viewed from the shadow of Big Brown’s seemingly assured Triple Crown bid. Now, with Big Brown’s defeat still fresh in everyone’s mind, what bigger message could Curlin send than to defeat Grade 1 level rivals while running at such a significant disadvantage?
The Curlin team hasn’t made a bad move since the colt was defeated in the Haskell last summer, and have run off 4 straight victories including the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Breeder’s Cup Classic, and of course the Dubai World Cup. He also seems to be training well, rattling off a 5 furlong workout in 1:02.80 on Monday.
Of the competitors, I find Einstein the most intriguing. Grasshopper is a horse I’ve thought highly of but it’s been a while since he’s won and he seems to find a way to lose in the stretch when it counts. Student Council is returning off a big win in the Pimlico Special on Black Eyed Susan day.
It’s time for Curlin to answer the bell and rise up to face a new round of challengers. Will racing fans get to see another signature race in the amazing career of a colt that went from unraced maiden to world champion in little over one year? If so, Curlin will add to his bankroll in his quest to overcome Cigar as the top earning U.S. thoroughbred in history. The task won’t be easy, and Curlin may well have to earn this one in the stretch as his lighter weight competitors turn for home. Barring a “Dubai bounce”, I’m looking for Curlin to add another notch to his belt. That being said, you really can’t fault any bettors looking for an opportunity to beat the favorite after seeing a “lock” go up in smoke last weekend.
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