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11/3/07 - Curlin equals career best speed figure in Classic despite slop, deep field
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY
by Bob Ehalt
The $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1), 11⁄4 miles
Monmouth Park; October 27 1. Curlin; 2. Hard Spun; 3. Awesome Gem This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships were contested at Monmouth Park, but the venue just as easily could have been called Lake Monmouth. Soaked by unrelenting storms, the New Jersey oval was turned into a sea of slop that raised doubts over the validity of some of the results. If the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) was one of those questionable outcomes, you could never tell by the winner.

Coming into the race, Curlin was one of the season’s faster horses and after smoothly gliding over Monmouth’s sloppy surface for ten furlongs, he proved to be the fastest of them all in the year’s most important race. Pulling away in the stretch to win by 4½ convincing lengths, Curlin, the 4.40-to-1 fourth choice in the wagering, added the Classic to a resume that already included two major victories, the Preakness Stakes (G1) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). His near-track record time of 2:00.59 was equally impressive as he chose a highly opportune time to match his career-best Ragozin speed figure of minus-¼. The Classic brought together five horses (Lawyer Ron, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday, Curlin, and Hard Spun), all with brilliant speed
figures, that each had an excellent chance of winning the race. But only Curlin was able to venture forward into negative territory over the wet track and record a victory that no doubt wrapped up Horse of the Year honors.

Looking back, Curlin closed out the year with a minus-¼ that followed a 1¼ (Jockey Club Gold Cup), 1 (Haskell Invitational Stakes [G1]), 4 (Belmont Stakes [G1]), and a minus-¼ (Preakness). Of the aforementioned five runners, runner-up Hard Spun was the only other member of the group that reverted to top form in the Classic. The speedy three-year-old colt, sent off at 8.10-to-1, held on gamely for the place spot after carving out demanding fractions of :45.85 for the first half-mile and 1:10.67 for six furlongs. He registered a 2 for his effort, equaling his figure from a runner-up finish in the Haskell and giving him three figures of 2½ or less in his final four races.

11/2/07 - Breeders' Cup Horses' Update:

Curlin (Smart Strike), the GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and likely Horse of the Year, returned to the
track for the first time since his smashing success on Saturday, even as plans for his immediate future remain somewhat unclear.

10/29/07 - Asmussen wants to see Curlin stay in training next year
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRDTIMES TODAY

Trainer Steve Asmussen wants to see Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) winner Curlin race next
year as a four-year-old. “He’s an easily recognizable horse that gives you a very good effort, and everybody who supports him should be proud of him,” Asmussen said on Sunday, one day after Curlin won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park. “I don’t know what could sell the sport better than that.”

Asmussen said no decision has been made regarding Curlin, a Smart Strike colt who could be retired to stud
by co-owners Padua Stables, Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Midnight Cry Stable. Asmussen earned his first Breeders’ Cup win after Curlin overtook Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up Hard Spun approaching the stretch and tallied a 41⁄2-length victory. The win is an important one toward the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.

Asmussen said he is looking ahead with Curlin, third-place finisher to Street Sense and Hard Spun in the Kentucky Derby and runner-up to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9 at Belmont Park. Curlin won the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course. “It’s just a whole new set of questions,” Asmussen said. “Our focus has been the Breeders’ Cup Classic ever since the Belmont. I think the horse came through with flying colors and put in his best performance yet. He was the best horse that he’s been [Saturday], but everything has to be evaluated from that.”

Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s assistant, said Curlin came out of the race in good shape. The chestnut colt was scheduled to be flown to Louisville on Sunday and will be stabled at Keeneland Race Course
in Lexington.

10/28/07 - CURLIN WEATHERS THE STORM
COURTESY OF THE TDN
Conditions for the 24th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park were far from ideal. Rain squalls punctuated the afternoon, the main track was a sea of slop, and riders coming from off the pace on the turf were bathed in mud as well. But the clouds parted as the horses headed to the paddock for yesterday's $5-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic, and the sun was shining as Curlin (Smart Strike) powered
past Hard Spun (Danzig) en route to what will certainly be a Horse of the Year-worthy performance.

"It was truly awesome," said jockey Robby Albarado, who had managed just one third-place finish in 10 prior Breeders' Cup attempts. "Everything went perfectly, starting with all the speed up front. It unfolded just the way we wanted, but it also takes a hell of a horse to get this done. Curlin was there for us every step of the way.

A Horse for the Course?
Many thought Monmouth's tight turns and wet track would prove Curlin's undoing, but that was not the case. The head-turning chestnut settled outside Street Sense as Hard Spun, followed closely by Lawyer Ron, Diamond Stripes (Notebook), Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor) and George Washington (Ire) (Danehill), splashed through a half in :45.85 and six panels in 1:10.67. The chase team gave it up one by one and Curlin and Street Sense made their moves. The Kentucky Derby winner was able to ride the rail around the turn and Curlin had to make his way through an opening between tiring rivals, but there was no doubt who loomed the larger threat. Curlin was in high gear as he collared Hard Spun at the top of the lane, and he galloped away to an eyecatching victory.

It was the first Breeders' Cup success for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was off the board in six prior tries. "It's incredible," Asmussen said."It's all about Curlin--he's the one who did it."

Curlin won easily, but there were anxious moments for his conditioner. "[The track] was a huge concern; I was extremely nervous about it. But Robby gave him the chance. He got him on his feet. First time by the stands, he was carrying Robby nicely, and he ran extremely well from there. He is incredible."

10/27/07 - Curlin Wins Breeders' Cup Classic in Quick Time
COURTESY OF THE BLOODHORSE
by Dan Liebman
Date Posted: October 27, 2007
Last Updated: October 27, 2007

Just 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.

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Race Comments: CURLIN was unhurried for five furlongs while racing just outside STREET SENSE along the backstretch, got the jump on that one while splitting horses to make his move on the turn, rapidly closed the gap angling three wide at the quarter pole, drew along side HARD SPUN to challenge in upper stretch, surged to the front opening a clear advantage a furlong out then drew away with authority under steady right hand urging to win going away.

10/22/07 - Preakness winner Curlin completes final breeze before Classic
COURTESY OF THE THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY

Preakness 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."

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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>>