by Phil Janack
Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin will make his next start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on September 30 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday morning at Saratoga Race Course that the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club against older horses would be Curlin's only start between his third-place finish in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 5 and the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27.
The Haskell was the three-year-old Smart Strike’s colt first start since competing in all three Triple Crown races. He finished third to Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), won the Preakness, and finished second to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
“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.”
Though Curlin remains stabled at Saratoga, Asmussen said the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) on August 25 and a likely showdown with Street Sense was never on the radar.
“After the Belmont, the Classic was the major goal for the second half of the season,” Asmussen said. “Trying to be polite and not eliminating the Travers has kind of put us in this position, but at no point did I ever say Travers.
“I think Graveyard of Champions and the best horse I've ever had shouldn't go in the same sentence. That's how I've always felt about it. I didn't give it that nickname, but we're aware of what happens here.”
Curlin has four wins, one second, and two thirds with earnings of $1,952,800 in seven career starts, all in 2007.
“We're just following the course that everbody's made important,” Asmussen said. “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.”
Asmussen may wind up with a starter in the Travers, though, as he is considering Tiz Wonderful, who finished last of six in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga in his previous start. The Jim Dandy was the first career loss for the Tiznow colt ,who suffered a tendon injury in January after an undefeated two-year-old season.
Tiz Wonderful's injury prompted owner Jess Jackson to buy into Curlin after the latter’s eye-popping career debut.
Tiz Wonderful worked six furlongs in 1:14.22 on the Oklahoma training track Monday morning.
“I haven't ruled out running him in the Travers,” Asmussen said. “He showed us what I wanted to see today. He went off nice and smooth, picked it up nicely and galloped out good. If he comes out well, we'll move forward.”
Phil Janack is a Saratoga correspondent of Thoroughbred Times