Curlin 2nd To Breeders’ Cup Turf Winner Red Rocks In The Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park
2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks, ridden by Javier Castellano, won the $500,000 Man O’War Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Saturday, July 12, foiling 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin’s turf debut.
Trained by Brian Meehan for owner J. Paul Reddam, Red Rocks covered 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:12.60 and paid $14.40, $4 and $2.90. Curlin, under jocky Robby Albarado, returned $2.50 and $2.10. 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now with jockey Ramon Dominguez came in third and paid $2.70 to show.
The 5-race winning streak is over for 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin and his future on turf is anyone’s guess. Race hrose owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen were hoping for a definite sign in the Man O’War Stakes that Curlin would be able to go forward and take on a race like the Prix Foy at Longchamp Race Course in Paris as a prep for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 5.
“He ran second,” Asmussen said. “We’ll just evaluate how he comes out of the race. I don’t want to rush to judgment. He was a step slow coming out of the gate; I wasn’t surprised as he had the outside draw. We’ll just evaluate more thoroughly. We’ll monitor his condition. He looked like he ran second to a Breeders’ Cup winner.”
Plans now are for Curlin to head to Saratoga to train on the Oklahoma Track for whatever will be his next assignment.
The 5-year-old Irish-bred son of Galileo, Red Rocks, wearing blinkers for the first time, got an intelligent ride from jockey Javier Castellano.
“That’s was a dream trip for my horse,” Castellano said. “I sat behind the speed, made my move and then waited for the late kick of Curlin. I didn’t see Curlin for a while but because I had such a great trip, I thought I would be able to hold on.”
When asked about beating Curlin, race horse trainer Brian Meehan said, “It is about beating the field and Curlin happened to be in there. Everybody loves a champion and today Red Rocks is a champion.”
Other horses who raced in Belmont Park’s Man O’War Stakes in order of finish: Sudan, True Cause, Grand Couturier and Mission Approved.
Tags: Better Talk Now, Curlin, Grand Couturier, Mission Approved, Red Rocks, Sudan, True Cause
"Curlin 2nd To Breeders’ Cup Turf Winner Red Rocks In The Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park" was posted on 13 July 2008 4:47 AM under Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Results & Payouts, Horses, Stakes Races
10% Instant Bonus, Free & Fast Payouts
Up to 60% Racebook Deposit Bonus +5% Weekly Horse Betting Rebate
Get Reward Points For Free Bets