by Joe Nevills

Following a successful trip to Dubai, 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin continued his dominance on Saturday at Churchill Downs with a 4 1/4-length win in the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).

The Smart Strike colt tracked the pace from fourth on the rail until the final turn, where rider Robby Albarado angled Curlin outside. He overtook pacesetter Barcola under a steady hand ride and steadily powered clear to win the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:49.68 as the 2-to-5 favorite.

Albarado said he knew he had the race in hand when he passed the eighth pole.

"I looked up on the Jumbotron and I was way in front. He still amazes me with his routine brilliance,” Albarado said of Curlin, who carried 128 pounds and conceded from ten to 15 pounds to nine challengers. The impost is the most carried in a Grade 1 win since Skip Away carried 128 pounds while winning the 1998 Pimlico Special Handicap (G1).

Runner-up Einstein (Brz) closed willingly to edge pacesetter Barcola by a nose.

The victory in the Stephen Foster increased Curlin's lifetime earnings to $9,396,800, trailing only Skip Away ($9,616,360) and Cigar ($9,999,815) among all-time leading North America-raced earners.

"When you look at what he has done, it just hits you over the head," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "That's incredible."

Though Asmussen and majority owner Jess Jackson did not confirm that Curlin was being pointed to turf races such as the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) in France or the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), they did suggest another overseas trip may be in his future. He won the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29 at Nad al Sheba.

"We first must decide how fit he is and how he came out of the race," Jackson said.  "Then he'll tell us when he's ready and we'll decide where we'll go after that."

"We're going to sit down and talk about what we're gonna do next," Asmussen said. "I do expect to breeze him on the turf and weigh out that option."

Curlin was met at the winner's circle with a thunderous ovation. Many racing fans in attendance thanked Asmussen and Albarado for bringing the champion to Churchill.

"It was amazing," Albarado said. "Our sport needs these horses to keep our fans excited about horse racing. He's a superstar and he's proven it."

"[Curlin] is spoiling me," Asmussen said. "People ask me what it's like to have Curlin, and I say it's like being a little kid and getting to meet Santa Claus. You know, 'I wanted to believe you're real, and you really are real.' “

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Midnight Cry Stables, Curlin is out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Sherriff's Deputy.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Joe Nevills is an editorial intern for Thoroughbred Times