Quote Of The Day

“This is about ego, having an organization come begging to Jackson to bring Curlin to their racetrack and ‘save’ the sport while giving the champion a farewell tour. Forget it. The terrible truth is that Curlin has not captivated America, does not draw massive crowds singularly with his presence, and to shell out extra cash for him during a dead period on the racing calendar would be money poorly spent with little return.”

ESPN.com racing columnist Jeremy Plonk on Jess Jackson’s announcement that Horse of the Year Curlin could race one more time in 2008 “if an appropriate venue and purse are offered”

Quote Of The Day

“The only thing that has been discussed was his travel arrangements back here to Kentucky . We made it back, we’ll relate where he’s at now, walk him, pet on him a little while, give him a little loving, and leave it at that.”

Steve Asmussen on the future plans for Curlin after his 4th place finish in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Quote Of The Day: Robby Albarado on Curlin

“I feel like I’m on the best horse in the world, so I want the best to show up. I’ve never felt that way with another horse. They think they can beat Curlin … tell them to show up. I want them to say this is the best lineup we’ve had in the Classic for a long time.”

Jockey Robby Albarado, in the Louisville Courier-Journal, on Horse of the Year Curlin and his chances in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.

Quote Of The Day

“If Curlin and Big Brown face each other, it will be the race of the century. Of course there’s only been eight years in this century, but I think you know what I mean.” 

Racing Hall of Fame jockey and current HorseRacingTV analyst Gary Stevens on a possible showdown between Horse of the Year Curlin and dual classic winner Big Brown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)   

Quote Of The Day : Neil Howard

“Curlin is everything a racehorse should be. I told someone that in order to beat him, you have to hope he gets up on the wrong side of the bed. It’s a big step up for our horse.”

Trainer Neil Howard, who will saddle Travers Stakes (G1) runner-up Mambo in Seattle against Curlin in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) today at Belmont Park

Quote Of The Day

“It would be great for racing, great for fans, and great for the industry. But my understanding is that Big Brown is going to the breeding shed after this year, so time is running out. And that may be true for Curlin. Curlin has genes that this industry needs: distance and stamina. He has no genetic shortcomings.”

Jess Jackson, owner of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, on a matchup with dual classic winner Big Brown. Curlin won the Woodward Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Curlin Wins The Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Curlin did not disappoint in his Saratoga debut, overcoming some early bumping to record a 1 1/4-length victory over a stubborn pacesetting Past the Point in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga...

The victory - Curlin's 10th from 14 career starts - was worth $300,000 and pushed his career earnings to $9,796,800, which puts him second all-time. Cigar is the all-time leading money earner with $9,999,815.

read more

Quote Of The Day

“He’s special. You have little kids wanting to know about Curlin and that alone shows you just how special he is. Curlin’s got it all, speed, stamina, heart, ability, but now, as time goes on, he’s got an aura about him. He’s matured and he knows how special he is. He’s an amazingly popular animal.”

Jockey Robby Albarado, who will ride the reigning Horse of the Year on Saturday in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course

Man o' War Results

First: Red Rocks (2006 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf winner.)

Second: Curlin (2007 Breeder's Cup Classic winner)

Third: Better Talk Now (2004 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf winner.)

Story here.

Quote Of The Day

“He didn’t embarrass himself and he sure didn’t embarrass me.”

Jess Jackson, majority owner of Horse of the Year Curlin, who finished second in his turf debut on Saturday in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen were hoping for a definite sign that the Curlin would be able to move forward toward a possible start in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), the world’s richest turf race, later this year in France. The colt will head to Saratoga Race Course to train on the Oklahoma Training Track for his next race, which is undecided, although Jackson said he believes Curlin needs another turf test

This Is Going To Be A Good Race!

*This will be televised on ESPN

Man o’ War S. (G1)
July 12, $500,000, 3yo & up, 13⁄8mT, Belmont Park, 5:15 PM ET

1. Better Talk Now
2. Grand Couturier (GB)
3. Mission Approved
4. True Cause
5. Sudan (Ire)
6. Red Rocks (Ire)
7. Curlin

Quote Of The Day: Curlin To Try Turf

“It’s a rare occurrence for a Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) champion to make the transition to turf, and we are looking forward to watching Curlin in his inaugural effort on grass. We thank Curlin’s majority owner, Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable, and trainer Steve Asmussen for bringing Curlin to New York and for their foresight and expertise in managing this outstanding champion.”

New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward after Horse of the Year Curlin on Tuesday was cleared to contest the $500,000 Man o’ War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Quote Of The Day

"[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.' “

Curlin Wins The $1M Stephen Foster

Despite spotting the rest of the field between 10 and 15 pounds, Curlin powered to a 4 1/2 length victory in yesterday's Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. The victory 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.

Story Here

Do You Think Curlin Will Surpass The N.A. All Time Earnings Record Set By Cigar?
	Yes
	No
pollcode.com free polls

Way To Go, Suffolk Downs!

Suffolk Downs will boost the purse of the Massachusetts Handicap if Horse of the Year Curlin and dual classic winner Big Brown both start in the race, officials with the East Boston track announced on Thursday.
The purse, originally slated at $500,000, would climb to $5-million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both horses remain undefeated in 2008. The $5-million would include a $1-million participation bonus for each horse.... Read Story

Curlin's Impressive 7 3/4 Length Win...

earns him a shot at immortality! Not really, but he does have a shot at becoming the leading all time earner for North America.

Curlin improved to eight wins in 11 career starts and boosted his career earnings to $8,807,800 to rank third behind Cigar ($9,999,815) and Skip Away ($9,616,360) among all-time North American-raced earners.

Do you think Curlin's connections are going to go for it?

Entries for The Dubai World Cup

This race will be televised on TVG and HRTV and available on the internet on TwinSprires.com

Rail Position: True Safety Limit: 16 Purse: USD 6,000,000   2000M(a10F) Dirt
NO	DR	HORSE	WGT	EQUIPMENT			OWNER		TRAINER	JOCKEY
1	1	Sway Yed (KSA)	57.0			[TT]	Prince Badr bin Abdulaziz Sons		S Alkahtani	O Peslier
2	2	Well Armed (USA)	57.0			[TT]	Winstar Farm LLC		E Harty	A Gryder
3	3	Happy Boy (BRZ)	57.0				Godolphin		S bin Suroor	Non Runner
4	4	Kocab (GB)	57.0				K Abdullah		A Fabre	S Pasquier
5	5	Great Hunter (USA)	57.0	[B]		[TT]	J Paul Reddam		D O'Neill	G Gomez
6	6	Premium Tap (USA)	57.0	[B1]	[TT-]		King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons		J Gardel	S Madrid
7	7	Vermilion (JPN)	57.0			[TT]	Sunday Racing Co Ltd		S Ishizaka	Y Take
8	8	Jalil (USA)	57.0				Godolphin		S bin Suroor	L Dettori
9	9	Asiatic Boy (ARG)	57.0				Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum		M de Kock	J Murtagh
10	10	Lucky Find (SAF)	57.0		[TT-]		Sh Ahmed bin Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum		M de Kock	K Shea
11	11	Glória De Campeão (BRZ)	57.0				Estrela Energia Stables		P Bary	C Lemaire
12	12	Curlin (USA)	57.0			[TT]	Stonestreet Stables & Midnight Cry Stables		S Asmussen	R Albarado
13	13	A P Arrow (USA)	57.0	[V]			Allen E Paulson Living Trust		T Pletcher	R Dominguez

On Curlin:

“Curlin gets over the ground here really well.And he’s anxious to do something. He did things the right way this morning.”

Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen,on reigning Horse of the Year Curlin. The SmartStrike colt breezed a half-mile on Saturday at Nadal Sheba in preparation for his season debut on Thursday in a$175,000 handicap race. Thursday’s race will serve as a prep forthe $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) onMarch 29

Nothing Like Jumping On The Bandwagon!

McPeek sues Curlin connections Midnight Cry


Trainer Ken McPeek has filed a lawsuit against William Gallion’s and Shirley Cunningham’s Midnight Cry Stable claiming he is owed a 5% commission on the 80% sale of probable Horse of the Year Curlin as well as commissions on other horses he identified for purchase.

In the complaint filed in Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, McPeek cites an agreement reached in the fall of 2002 that called for Tandy, the limited liability corporation that operates as Midnight Cry, to pay him a 5% commission on both the purchase price and subsequent sale of horses he picked out for the stable.

According to McPeek, the deal also assured him two lifetime breeding rights if any of the horses became a stallion.

McPeek received the 5% commission when Midnight Cry bought Curlin for $57,000 in the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale, attorney Donald Cox said.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2007/November/13/McPeek-sues-Curlin-connections-Midnight-Cry.aspx

The Jockey Club Gold Cup

Another thrilling race to be run this weekend will feature Lawyer Ron against Curlin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup is one of four stakes races at Belmont on Sunday that reward winners with starting spots in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as part of the new “Win and You’re In” format.
The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner earns an automatic starting spot in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park. Sounds like another "must see" race!

Horse Racing

Multiple Grade 1 winner Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr) and Preakness
Stakes (G1) winner Curlin (Smart Strike) breezed on Monday in
preparation for planned starts in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Stakes (G1) on Sunday.

Street Sense and Hard Spun are both confirmed to run in the Kentucky Cup. These are the last prep races leading up to the Breeder's Cup. Soon it will be time for a Breeder's Cup pool.