Posted: Saturday, October 27, 2007 7:31 PM
by Frank Angst
Like so many top talents, Curlin saved his best for last.
After a season in which many of the top male horses appeared to be evenly matched, Curlin rallied to a decisive 4 1/2-length victory in the $4,580,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic Presented by Dodge (G1) on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Curlin, who won this year’s Preakness Stakes (G1) and placed in each of the three Triple Crown races, rallied three wide from fifth place on the far turn and reeled in pacesetter Hard Spun to take the Classic.
“He’s a big-day horse,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen, who earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory. “It’s all about Curlin. He’s the one who did it.”
As expected, Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up Hard Spun seized the early lead through a half-mile in :45.85 and six furlongs in 1:10.67. Hard Spun continued cruising through the far turn, and with Derby winner Street Sense rallying along the rail, for a moment the Classic looked like it would deliver a Derby sequel.
But while Street Sense fired along the rail, Curlin, who finished third in the Derby, launched a powerful three-wide rally that commanded the attention of the crowd of 41,781. Curlin splashed through the sloppy stretch to register the easy win, completing 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.59, equaling the track record of 2:00 2/5 set by Carry Back in 1962 and matched by Majestic Light in ‘77.
Winning jockey Robby Albarado was the regular rider on 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft.
“I rode them both with the same amount of confidence,” Albarado said, before later adding. “My vote is to run [Curlin] next year.”
The victory gave Curlin an important step toward Horse of the Year honors as the three-year-old Smart Strike colt closed out the season with victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“He’s a better horse now,” Asmussen said of Curlin, who placed in the Derby in just his fourth career start. “The Classics basically were his two-year-old season. Then he was given a break, and he came back better and more confident.”
Hard Spun continued well to finish second, 4 ¾ lengths in front of 28.30-to-1 longshot Awesome Gem, who rallied late to claim third place.
Street Sense, favored at 5-to-2, and jockey Calvin Borel could not squeeze through along the rail on Saturday to replicate the Derby win, settling for fourth.
“We just got outrun today,” Borel said. “Curlin ran a beautiful race.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s two Classic starters struggled on the sloppy surface as Lawyer Ron, a two-time Grade 1 winner in New York this year, finished seventh and Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Any Given Saturday finished one spot in front of Lawyer Ron.
One of Curlin’s co-owners, Jess Jackson, said the various partners will meet to decide their star colt’s future, but hinted that a four-year-old campaign is possible.
“With Robby riding and Steve training, he could be one of the greats of all time,” said Jackson, added that he believes this year’s crop of three-year-old horses was exceptional.
Curlin’s victory gave his sire, Smart Strike, a sweep of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), which was won by English Channel. Out of the Deputy Minister mare Sherriff’s Deputy, Curlin was bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm Inc.
Tiago finished fifth and Diamond Stripes was eighth.
George Washington (Ire) broke down in the stretch and was euthanized.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Frank Angst is senior writer at Thoroughbred Times