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The son of Smart Strike, Curlin, won the 2007 Preakness Stakes and is the reigning Horse of the Year. Curlin has been installed at the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic that features stars from Japan and Europe.
“It’s a grand stage,” race horse trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s going to be extremely competitive and we have nothing but respect for all the horses in the field.”
Among the Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders challenging Curlin are undefeated Casino Drive from Japan and Europeans Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Raven’s Pass.
If Curlin is able to join Tiznow (2000-01) as the only back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Classic winners, the 4-year-old likely again will be named Horse of the Year.
Curlin has yet to lose on dirt this year and has wins in the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward and Jockey Gold Cup. Curlin has 5 wins in 6 starts this year and is 11-for-15 in his career entering the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic.
One possible major challenge for Curlin will be that it’s his first career race over a synthetic surface.
“He’s trained on the synthetic, here and at Keeneland,” Steve Asmussen said. “I think a higher percentage of horses train well over it than run over it. However, we are excited about the opportunity to race here.”
Curlin will be ridden by jockey Robby Albarado and will leave from the 9th post in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic did lose a bit of its luster when Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner who was expected to challenge Curlin, was retired earlier this month after being injured in training.
However, there still is plenty of star power led by Casino Drive, who is unbeaten in 3 career starts.
After missing the Belmont Stakes due to a hoof injury, Casino Drive made a triumphant return in an allowance race at Santa Anita on October 12.
A major hurdle for Casino Drive, who is trained by Kazuo Fujisawa, is that he never has raced on any surface other than traditional dirt. The 3-year-old also not raced around two turns since his February debut at Kyoto.
Casino Drive, who will leave from the second post, will have jockey Victor Espinoza in the irons.
Duke of Marmalade, who has won five consecutive Grade 1 races in Europe this year, is one of two contenders in the barn of Aidan O’Brien. The trainer also sends out Henrythenavigator, the winner of four races in England and Ireland this year.
Eoin Harty, who trains Colonel John, thinks the European contingent could be a major factor.
“The European group here is by far the best we’ve seen in the Classic,” race horse trainer Eoin Harty said. “With the synthetic surface, you have to respect them. They’ve run against each other all year and haven’t ducked or dodged each other.”
Another challenger could be Raven’s Pass (Britain), who is owned by Princess Haya of Jordan. In his most recent start, Raven’s Pass defeated Henrythenavigator in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
The complete order of the Breeders’ Cup Classic field from the rail out is Go Between (8-1), Casino Drive (10-1), Tiago (15-1), Duke of Marmalade (10-1), Henrythenavigator (10-1), Smooth Air (50-1), Student Council (20-1), Raven’s Pass (6-1), Curlin (7-5), Fairbanks (10-1), Colonel John (20-1) and Champs Elysees (15-1).
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