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JUMP TO:DUBAI WORD CUP COVERAGE | BREEDERS' CUP COVERAGE | KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE | PREAKNESS COVERAGE | BELMONT COVERAGE | 2007 ARCHIVE12/21/07 - Jackson buys out Bolton, now owns 80% of Curlin
CIURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBEDTIMES TODAY
—Pete Denk
Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables has bought George Bolton’s ownership in Curlin, bringing Jackson’s interest to 80% in the leading candidate for champion three-year-old male and Horse of the Year.Jackson announced the deal on Thursday, saying that he and his wife, Barbara Banke, had bought out Bolton for an undisclosed price. “We could not be happier. To be part of this marvelous horse’s special year has been the highlight of our career in racing,” Jackson stated. “His consistent record of success in America’s most important races against the very best competition exceeded our wildest expectations. He’s a wonderful horse, and we believe he may earn the honor of being named Horse of the Year.”
Jackson said Curlin is in perfect health and will enter light training to keep fit. With the breeding season approaching, the chances of Curlin racing in 2008 grow larger each day. Neither Jackson nor anyone in his camp would say if a final decision has been made to keep Curlin in training.
The three-year-old Smart Strike horse is with trainer Steve Asmussen at Fair Grounds. Curlin won six of nine starts this year, including the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1). ..,
11/30/07 - Curlin Ships to Fair Grounds by Blood-Horse Staff Date Posted: November 30, 2007 Last Updated: November 30, 2007
Curlin, the leading candidate for 2007 Horse of the Year, arrived at Fair Grounds Nov. 27 following a van ride from Churchill Downs, but his racing future is still undecided.
A 4 1/2-length winner in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Curlin is not immediately scheduled for active training, and will walk the shed under tack for now, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.
Curlin's majority owners are Jess Jackson and George Bolton, but embattled attorneys William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham, Jr., of Midnight Cry Stables also have a 20 percent interest in the 3-year-old colt. Because both are currently jailed on charges of taking millions of dollars awarded to plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit concerning the diet drug phen-fen, Curlin's racing future remains cloudy.
Asmussen has guided Curlin’s racing career since just after the Smart Strike colt’s maiden victory at Gulfstream. He brought him to Fair Grounds early last season, eventually shipped him to Oaklawn to win the Rebel Stakes (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and then saddled Curlin to capture the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) prior to the Classic.
10/27/07 - Curlin Wins Breeders' Cup Classic in Quick Time: CLICK HERE FOR MORE BREEDERS' CUP NEWS
COURTESY OF THE BLOODHORSE
by Dan Liebman
Date Posted: October 27, 2007
Last Updated: October 27, 2007Just like in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Hard Spun led into the stretch, but this time it was not Street Sense but Curlin who went by him to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered b y Dodge (gr. I) Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.
In the process, Curlin, ridden by Robby Albarado, tied the track record for 10 furlongs, getting the distance on a sloppy track in 2:00.59. in fifths, that translates to 2:00 2/5, equal to Carry Back's clocking way back in 1962. A gutsy Hard Spun hung tough for second while Awesome Gem finished third.
Curlin is owned by the Midnight Cry Stable of Shirley Cunningham and Bill Gallion, Satish Sanan's Padua Stables, Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, and George Bolton. He is trained by Steve Asmussen.
Hard Spun took the lead right of the gate, with Lawyer Ron and Diamond Stripes settling in second and third. Hard Spun took the field through fractions of :23.11, :45.85, and 1:10.67. The only change in position came when the field had run six furlongs and Any Given Saturday moved past Diamond Stripes.
The were in the same spots, Hard Spun in front followed by Lawyer Ron and Any Given Saturday as they ran a mile in 1:35.86, but Curlin had closed to be in fourth position. Hard Spun still had the lead as they cornered for home but it was apparent Curlin was moving to the lead on his outside.
The two raced down the stretch, with Curlin pulling away to win by an easy four lengths. It was another half-length back to Awesome Gem with Street Sense getting fourth.
10/22/07 - Preakness winner Curlin completes final breeze before Classic
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAYPreakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin breezed four furlongs in :50.20 at Keeneland Race Course on Monday for trainer Steve Asmussen in preparation for a showdown with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum!
Brands (G1) winner Street Sense in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).
The colt is due to arrive at Monmouth Park today.Jockey Robby Albarado, Curlin’s regular rider, has the mount in the Classic on Saturday. Asmussen’s assistant, Scott Blasi, will arrive with Curlin and two other Breeders’ Cup starters, Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(G1) hopefuls Kodiak Kowboy and Pyro. Asmussen is expected to arrive in New Jersey on Thursday.
Winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in his previous start, Curlin will face older horses
for the second time in eight career starts. Curlin, who raced in each of the three Triple Crown races
this spring, did not race as a juvenile.
10/3/07 - Curlin To Prep at Keeneland...
Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News
Curlin (Smart Strike), a game 1/4-length winner over Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr) in Sunday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., will prep for the the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. " He shipped [to Keeneland] fine and he came out of the Gold Cup great," Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, said. "He will do all of his preparations for the Breeders' Cup here and ship to Monmouth Oct. 23."
9/30/07 - Curlin Edges Lawyer Ron in Gold Cup Thriller
Courtesy of the Blood Horse
Date Posted: September 30, 2007
Last Updated: September 30, 2007by Karen M. Johnson
In a race reminiscent of Rags to Riches beating Curlin by a head in this year’s Belmont Stakes, the Sept. 30 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park featured Curlin catching favored Lawyer Ron in the final yards for a neck win.
The exciting Gold Cup finish is a prelude of things to come when Curlin and Lawyer Ron meet again in four weeks in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.
The $750,000 Gold Cup came down to a two-horse race during the stretch run. Political Force finished third in the 1 1/4-mile dirt race, four lengths behind Lawyer Ron. Bringing up the rear was Sun King, Brother Bobby, Indy Wind and Malibu Moonshine.
Brother Bobby set the pace for three-quarters of a mile, while being pressed on the outside by the 3-5 favorite, Lawyer Ron. The early fractions were 24.26 seconds, 47.88 and 1:11.66. After a mile run in 1:36.30, Lawyer Ron, ridden by John Velazquez, held a narrow advantage. Curlin, with Robby Albarado aboard, raced comfortably in fourth for six furlongs and initiated a three-wide move around the far turn.
Preakness winner Curlin, who was meeting older horses for the first time, needed every inch of the stretch to reel in Lawyer Ron.
The final time was 2:01.20 over a fast track. The winner, a son of Smart Strike, returned $6.20 as the second choice.
Steve Asmussen, Curlin’s trainer, said, “Hopefully, it didn’t take too terribly much out of him and he’ll be sharp for the Classic.”
The Gold Cup’s “Win and You’re In” designation earned Curlin a berth to the Classic. Curlin is owned by Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, George Bolton and Midnight Cry Stable.
Asmussen carefully mapped out his fall plans for Curlin after the colt was third in the Haskell at Monmouth on Aug. 5. Asmussen had no interest in running Curlin, who had competed in each of the Triple Crown races, in the Travers at Saratoga. His goal was to have a fresh horse heading into the Breeders’ Cup, with one prep under his belt.
“I think he is an outstanding horse, and he proved so once again today,” Asmussen said. “The third in the Haskell and the third in the Kentucky Derby were against horses whose form had held up. We’ll all meet in a month’s time, probably to decide a lot of honors.”
Curlin will leave New York Oct. 1 for Kentucky, where he will train over Keeneland’s Polytrack for the Classic.
Todd Pletcher, Lawyer Ron’s trainer, was happy with the effort and liked the strong way that the colt galloped out after the race, in front of Curlin. Pletcher also commented that he learned something from the race.
“He is a free-running horse; probably better off letting him go and do what he wants to do,” Pletcher said.
Lawyer Ron, a 4-year-old, entered the Gold Cup off sensational-looking wins in the Woodward and Whitney at Saratoga.
(Chart, Equibase)
8/21/07 - Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Curlin breezed Monday morning for
the first time since finishing third in the $1-million Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 5 at Monmouth Park.
Curlin completed five furlongs in 1:03.64 on Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma training track.
“Curlin worked beautifully,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “I really like what I’m seeing in him. He’s in great shape.”
The Haskell was the first start for Curlin since he was beaten by a head by Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9. The Belmont came three weeks after Curlin beat Street Sense by the same
margin on May 19 to win the Preakness. Curlin ran third behind Street Sense and Hard Spun in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 5 at Churchill Downs. In the Haskell, Any Given Saturday drew off to a clear win and Hard Spun held off Curlin by a head to finish second.
“He was coming off quite a bit of a layoff,” Blasi said about Curlin’s Haskell performance. “Any Given Saturday was set up perfectly for it. He was coming off the Dwyer [Stakes (G2)] four weeks later. Good horses, you can get beat under those circumstances.” “Our goal with Curlin is the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Powered
by Dodge (G1)]. We’re going to take the best possible route there.”
Curlin will skip the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday and make his next start in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on September 30 at Belmont Park. The Smart Strike colt has four wins, one second, and two thirds in seven starts and has amassed purse earnings of $1,952,800 since his career debut on February 3.
“Having Curlin do so much in such a small period of time, and having him run peak performances through the Triple Crown races, I think it’s asking too much of any horse to keep them at a peak level from August through the end of October,” Blasi said. “I think the Haskell was a good race, and Any Given Saturday is a good horse. I think under timing and preparation, on another day we’re going to be in good shape. I’m happy he’s had a race over the Monmouth racetrack, and the difference between a mile and a quarter and a mile and an eighth is a long way for a lot of horses.”
Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Times Today —Phil Janack
08/14/07 - Curlin to use Jockey Club Gold Cup as Breeders’ Cup prep
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 11⁄4-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.”
Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Times Today - Phil Janack
08/05/07 - Curlin runs third in the Haskell.
.
"We're going to have to figure out why he ran third," trainer Steve Asmussen said after his Curlin failed to deliver a knock-out performance in the Haskell. AHe ran the worst race of his career and we'll have to figure out
why."
Curlin the Star of Aug. 5 Haskell
by Jason Shandler
Last Updated: August 3, 2007 ( Courtesy of The Bloodhorse)
During the post position draw for the Aug. 5 running of the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. 1), Steve Asmussen was asked if Curlin was the best horse he has ever trained. A master of understatement, Asmussen–who has won more than 3,000 career races–flatly replied : “I think that would be very reasonable.”
Without doubt, Preakness Stakes (gr. 1) victor Curlin is the star of the 1 1/8-mile Haskell at Monmouth Park. If he wins, it could set up an electrifying 3-year-old championship in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I) later this year, also to be run in Oceanport, N.J.
Curlin, whose last race was a heart-pounding loss to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (gr. 1), has made recent three works at Saratoga. If the son of Smart Strike is fit and ready to go, the field of eight should set up perfectly for him. Asmussen said the race's quick pace, which is likely to be set by Stormello and Cable Boy, will suit his colt just fine.
“That’s one of the main reasons why we chose the Haskell,” Asmussen said of the early speed. “The Breeders’ Cup has been our main objective for the second half of the year. Talent-wise, (Curlin) is capable of doing anything we want him to. This horse has spoiled us with his consistency. We’re very pleased with him.”
08/03/07 - Curlin returns in $1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY
Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up Curlin was installed as the even-money morning-line favorite for the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap Presented by Vonage (G1) on Sunday at
Monmouth Park.
The Smart Strike colt has been working steadily at Saratoga Race Course following his narrow loss to filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes on June 9 and enters the Haskell with four victories in six career starts.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said the colt, owned by Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, George Bolton, and Midnight Cry Stables, will benefit from running a race on the track, as Monmouth hosts the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 26-27.
“The horse has spoiled us with his consistency,” Asmussen said. “We’re very pleased with his development coming off a 1½-mile race, and the Breeders’ Cup is one of our major objectives.”
—Tom De Martini
Haskell Invitational H. Presented by Vonage (G1)
August 5, $1-million, 3yo, 11⁄8m, Monmouth Park, 6:12 PM ET - Curlin breaks from the six hole.
07/03/07 - CURLIN WORKS!
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAYCurlin went to the track around 6:20 a.m. EDT and, under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas, covered the 5 furlong distance in 1:03.20, which ranked 18th at the distance. The breeze was the first major training move for Curlin since a runner- up finish to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9 at Belmont Park. Churchill clockers timed the Smart Strike colt in fractions of :13.80, :27, :38.80, and :51. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.40. “I asked for 1:03 and I got 1:03,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’s an awesome horse.”
Curlin turned in a series of strong gallops prior to the breeze, which Asmussen hopes will help the colt prepare for a summer/fall campaign that could include the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered
by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park. “I don’t think that he’s lost any sharpness,” Asmussen said. “He’s just happy and healthy.” Asmussen is pointing Curlin to the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) on August 5 at Monmouth Park. He plans to work Curlin one more time at Churchill before the Haskell. Curlin will be shipped to Asmussen’s stable at Saratoga Race Course on July 12.
“We’ll keep our routine where it’s at,” Asmussen said. “We’ll have plenty in us before we leave here, so we’re
not obligated [to that schedule] when you get up there, because you never know what will happen in New York weatherwise.”
Lot of history in horse's name ( This is a very interesting story on the naming of CURLIN)Charlie Curlin of Trigg County was a slave whose name will live forever if the horse called Curlin wins the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Curlin the horse actually might wind up the post-time favorite: no surprise, given Curlin is undefeated going into a wide open race. But the story behind this intriguing Derby hopeful is much larger than one colt's perfect record going into America's greatest horse race. READ MORE>>
