Curlin to repeat as Horse of the Year

Horseracing Betting Lines

09/02/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Curlin will become the first repeat Horse of the Year since Cigar in 1995 and 1996. The four-year-old colt has proven himself incapable of turning in a poor performance.

In last Saturday's Woodward Stakes he methodically ran down the pacesetters in the 1 1/8 mile race and had jockey Robby Albarado keeping him focused down the stretch.

"There was a little concern going into the first turn with the traffic," noted trainer Steve Asmussen. "He got bumped around a little bit. But you could tell halfway down the backside that Robby was very comfortable with where he was at. And Robby went to him when he needed to and it looked like Curlin came back with something left."

Asmussen gets all the credit he deserves in preparing Curlin for a return to the main track after a near miss on the turf in the Man o'War Stakes. The colt hasn't lost on dirt since finishing third in last year's Haskell Invitational.

"The mystique of Saratoga, winning a Grade 1 here, the Graveyard of Champions, all of that works into your head leading up to this," Asmussen said following the Woodward effort. "But he came through like Curlin does and we're extremely proud of him. Curlin is meant for the big moment. He takes it all in stride."

The one negative aspect of Curlin's current season is the possibility of him not defending his title in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Because the World Thoroughbred Championships will contested on the synthetic track at Santa Anita, Curlin's connections are purportedly planning to avoid the 1 1/4 mile race.

"The perfect scenario would be to run in the best races," said co-owner Jess Jackson, "the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup, then go overseas to the Japan Cup. But that will be hard to press into a four-week schedule. We'll wait and see. He loves Belmont and now I think he loves Saratoga."

Asmussen has stated that Curlin will remain at his Saratoga barn for the time being and breeze there early next week. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is Saturday, September 27, four weeks after the Woodward.

"He'll train back here right now," Asmussen said from Saratoga. "I spoke with Mr. Jackson and we really like the circumstances for him right now. We talked last night. We're very pleased with how he cooled out. We'll let him go back to the track in a couple of days, kind of enjoy what happened and admire him for a little bit and then try to make a decision on where he's at and what's best for him."

Curlin could stop competing right now and still claim Horse of the Year quite easily. His people want him to conclude his illustrious career as the all-time money earner over Cigar.

Cigar totaled $9,999,815 when retired. With the Woodward victory Curlin went by Skip Away on the career list and now has more than $9.7 million. The $450,000 winner's check from the Jockey Club Gold Cup would put Curlin above $10 million in lifetime winnings.

This is the final year of Curlin's Hall of Fame career. It is obvious he will go out a champion and spend a comfortable life on the farm making little Curlins.