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The 2008 horse betting Breeder’s Cup Classic may have lost Big Brown but all is not lost after it was announced on Tuesday that 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin will be entered in this year’s horse race.
It is almost a certainty that Curlin will win Horse of the Year honors again this year and a second straight win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic would be a great way to end his career.
The question for months has been whether or not Curlin would like the new synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park and the answer is yes. Curlin has had two workouts over the surface, including a very nice five-furlong workout on Monday.
Owner Jess Jackson said that he wants fans to see Curlin one more time. “I think I owed it to the horse,” Jackson said, “Curlin tells us he’s fit, and when a top athlete is ready, he wants to compete. And I do want to help enhance the fan base and give hardcore fans a chance to see him one more time.”
There are a lot of people around the world that breathed a huge sigh of relief with Curlin’s entry. Without Big Brown and Curlin the Breeders’ Cup Classic would have lacked a star and would not have drawn big numbers. Now with Curlin in the race the horse betting Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita executives can start promoting the race.
Curlin’s trainer Steve Asmussen said the horse would have his final workout next Monday at Santa Anita.
If Curlin wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic he would become only the second horse in racing history to win the race twice. Tiznow won in 2000 and 2001.
“This will add one more dimension to his legacy,” Jackson said. “No horse has done what he’s done, not in 20 months.”
Curlin has only been racing since early 2007. He was third in the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness and was second in the Belmont Stakes. Last year, he has victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and this year he is perfect on the dirt with wins in the Woodward, Stephen Foster, Dubai World Cup and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be on Saturday, October 25th at Santa Anita.
It is the first time the races will be run on a synthetic surface which is one reason that Jackson wanted Curlin to train on the track first before deciding whether to enter him in the Classic. “I would have preferred Santa Anita to stay traditional,” Jackson said.
The plans for Curlin following the Breeders’ Cup Classic are up in the air. He could be retired to stud, he could race once more in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November or he could race in the Japan Cup Dirt in December. There is also an outside chance that Curlin could continue racing next year.
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