by Larry Stewart
 
On a day the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) lost Big Brown, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin moved closer to officially entering the $5-million race.
 
During a workout Monday between the fourth and fifth races at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, Curlin breezed five furlongs in :59.12 in company with stablemate Hawaii Calls and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.14.
 
"We're very pleased," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "Everything is in place."
 
The final hurdle before Tuesday's expected official announcement that Curlin will attempt to score a repeat victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic is to make sure he came out of the workout in good shape and there is no inflammation in his legs.

Owner Jess Jackson flew down with his wife, Barbara Banke, to watch the workout. Afterward, he talked as if Curlin already had been entered.
 
Jackson opened his comments at a press gathering by repeating condolences about Big Brown's career-ending hoof injury earlier Monday. He also expressed his regret that "these two great horses will never meet."
 
Jackson opened the press gathering by snapping a photograph on his cell phone of the reporters on hand.

"You guys are doing this to me all the time," he said.
 
Jackson explained how he and his wife almost missed the workout. They arrived at Ontario International Airport at 1:50 p.m. PDT and made it to Santa Anita—normally a 45-minute drive—in about 25 minutes.

"Fortunately, we had a former [California Highway Patrol] officer driving us," Jackson said.

Jackson's mood turned serious toward the end of the press session when he noted that there have been five fatalities, four during morning workouts, on Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride synthetic surface since the opening of the Oak Tree meeting on September 24.

"It's a major factor in my mind," Jackson said. "Curlin's health is more important than anything else."

Larry Stewart is a California-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent