by Steve Bailey
Horse of the Year Curlin will make his next start on dirt in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course, majority owner Jess Jackson said on Tuesday.
The California winemaker said on a national teleconference that he and trainer Steve Asmussen also had considered the $1-million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on the Polytrack surface at Del Mar on August 24 and the $1-million Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on turf this weekend at Arlington Park for the four-year-old Smart Strike colt’s next start.
Curlin has been training at Saratoga since his runner-up finish to Red Rocks (Ire) in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1) in his turf debut on July 12 at Belmont Park, which snapped a five-start unbeaten streak dating back to last August. He has earned $9,496,800, leaving him $503,015 shy of Cigar's North American record of $9,999,815. Skip Away is second at $9,616,360. A victory the Woodward would put Curlin second at $9,796,800.
"The Woodward has the least purse but we thought it would be best to stay at this venue, both for him and for racing," Jackson said. “
“One of the reasons I want to run at Saratoga is because it’s a historic venue and its rich history and tradition will add to his legacy, not necessarily his pocketbook. The legacy of the horse and the fitness of the horse made the decision to run in the Woodward.”
Jackson’s announcement came just one day after Curlin worked five furlongs in 1:02.72 on the Oklahoma training track.
“He’s fit here and he’s happy here,” Jackson said. “Most of the time, he tells us what he wants to do. We’re going to do what’s best for the horse. His health is the most important thing to us.”
Jackson said that earlier plans to possibly run the horse in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) on turf on October 5 at Longchamp have been scrapped and that he and Asmussen are exploring all possibilities for the remainder of the year, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Santa Anita Park’s updated Pro Ride surface.
“We’d like to go there, but that’s an untested surface,” Jackson said. “The Breeders’ Cup has two races we could look at—the Turf and the Classic. We’ve won the Classic before—been there, done that.
“We’ve been invited to Japan, we’ve been invited to Hong Kong, we’ve been invited to other venues here in North America. We’re just going to keep all of our options open.”
Jackson also left open the possibility that Curlin could run next year as a five-year-old under certain conditions, namely the creation of a racing league for older horses that included events with elevated purses designed to keep talented younger horses in training as they get older.
“It’s a hard decision on whether to retire him and help improve the gene pool or to strengthen the sport and continue to race him,” Jackson said. “The chances of him racing next year are pretty slim, but we will look at all of our options.”
Jackson also responded to the latest criticism of Curlin from trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., who conditions dual classic winner Big Brown. Dutrow has not been shy about telling the world which horse he thinks is superior. On Sunday, following Big Brown’s victory in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), Dutrow took another shot at Curlin.
"Curlin couldn't win the Derby; we could,” Dutrow said in Daily Racing Form. Curlin couldn't win [the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1)]; we could. Curlin got beat [by] a filly. We haven't. Our horse is undefeated on the grass. Curlin isn't. I don't know why people think Curlin is such a good horse. We're way better than Curlin."
Despite the harsh words, Jackson said he would love to see the two horses compete if a good opportunity presented itself.
"I think it’s bad for racing to have trash talk,” Jackson said. “I think it’s unethical in the football arena and other sports. What you have is an attempt to show the animals at their best, and to run down another guy’s horse just demeans the sport.
“Yes, I’d love to meet [Big Brown]. it would be great for the industry and the fans. May the best horse win."
Jackson said he and Asmussen will map out the rest of Curlin’s season following the Woodward.
“I would love to have him win two or three more races before the end of the year, maybe one overseas,” he said. “But those are just the dreams of a foolish owner who is loving his horse. … We’re going to take it one race at a time, and we’ll know a little more after the Woodward.”
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times