Curlin Has First Official Workout On Santa Anita Park’s Synthetic Surface
2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin ran a half-mile in 52.80 seconds Monday in his first official workout on Santa Anita Park‘s synthetic surface with race horse trainer Steve Asmussen watching.
It was the first timed workout for the race horse Curlin since he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at New York’s Belmont Park on September 27 and became thoroughbred racing’s all-time money winning horse with more than $10 million.
“He looked around quite a bit,” Steve Asmussen said. “It’ll be interesting the next time he gets on the track. We just wanted to put his mind at ease and let him do all the acclimating.”
Curlin, who was shipped to the southern California track on September 28, is under consideration to defend his title in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita, depending on how he adapts to the new Pro-Ride surface.
“I don’t think there was any decision to be made today,” Steve Asmussen said. “We’re going to show Curlin the patience he deserves and we’re going to do what we think is right.”
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup will be run for the first time on a synthetic surface, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic would be Curlin’s first race on such a surface.
“For those people that like synthetic surfaces, that’s great,” said Steve Asmussen, who is not a fan of artificial surfaces. “I don’t care. I care what Curlin thinks of the surface.”
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is set to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, along with some of Europe’s top horses.
Tags: Curlin
"Curlin Has First Official Workout On Santa Anita Park’s Synthetic Surface" was posted on 6 October 2008 10:29 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Special Features, Stakes Races
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