Curlin

Curlin
NTRA photo

2004, Smart Strike - Sherriff's Deputy, by Deputy Minister

Breeder: Fares Farm (Ky.)

Owner: Stonestreet, Padua, G. Bolton, et al

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Regular Rider: Robby Albarado

Pedigree

Curlin
Smart Strike
Sherriff's Deputy
Mr. Prospector
Classy 'n Smart
Deputy Minister
Barbarika
Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Smarten
No Class
Vice Regent
Mint Copy
Bates Motel
War Exchange

Purchase Info

Initially consigned to 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale by Eaton Sales, agent, and purchased for $57,000 by Ken McPeek on behalf of Midnight Cry Stable.

Adter Curlin won his maiden debut at Gulfstream Park by 12 3/4-lengths, Midnight Cry sold a majority interest in a partnership with Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, and George Bolton.

Jess Jackson would later buy out the other new partners, giving his Stonestreet Stable 80% interest with Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham's Midnight Cry Stables retaining a 20% interest.

Due to an ongoing legal matter involving Midnight Cry's principals, Curlin's ultimate ownership may have to be decided by the courts.

Pedigree Highlights

Click on the highlighted stallion name near the top of the page to go to the Thoroughbred Times Stallion Directory page for Smart Strike.

Dam Sherriff's Deputy was unraced. Horse of the Year Curlin is her first stakes winner.

Second dam Barbarika was a Grade 2 winner and is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Lucky Lady Lauren.

Curlin's third dam War Exchange is also the third dam of Countess Diana, 1997 champion two-year-old filly and winner of the 1997 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Two-time Grade 1 winner Exogeous is also a member of this clan.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
39612$5,102,800
44310$4,394,000

At 3: 1– Preakness S. (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1), Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1), Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3), 2– Belmont S. (G1), 3– Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Haskell Invitational S. (G1)

At 4: 1– Stephen Foster H. (G1), Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1), 2– Man o' War S. (G1)

Last Start

Won Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) on Sept. 30 at Belmont

Contender Status

Curlin competed in all three Triple Crown races, winning the Preakness Stakes (G1) and finishing second, a neck back of Rags to Riches, in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

After his third place finish in the August 5 Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, trainer Steve Asmussen said that Curlin would have only one more start prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), taking on older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on September 30.

"The major target has always been the Classic," Asmussen said. "How do you get there best? I thought it was a good opportunity to run him at Monmouth over the same racetrack [as the Breeders' Cup]. With that in our bank, I think that just two races and we can be at our best."

Curlin was at his best in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, running down handicap division leader Lawyer Ron in his first start against older horses.

"I think he is an outstanding horse, and he proved so once again [in the Gold Cup]," Asmussen said. "The third in the Haskell and the third in the Kentucky Derby were against horses whose form had held up. We'll all meet in a month's time, probably to decide a lot of honors."

Curlin will train at Keeneland Race Course.

Recent Works

October 22 - Four furlongs breezing in :50.20 at Keeneland Race Course, all-weather track fast. 24th best of 32 workouts at the distance.

October 15 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:01.20 at Keeneland Race Course, all-weather track fast. 18th best of 32 workouts at the distance.

October 9 - Four furlongs breezing in :51.60 at Keeneland Race Course, all-weather track fast. 48th best of 55 workouts at the distance.

Quotable

Trainer Steve Asmussen on scheduling races for Curlin:

"We're just following the course that everybody's made important. It has been suggested that they put way too much emphasis on the Breeders' Cup races, but that's where the emphasis is, so that's where we're going to target and do our best with."