Stonestreet Stable’s Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner is making his debut at Saratoga Race Course in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, August 30.
All carrying 126 pounds, the Woodward field of race horses with jockeys and morning line odds:
- A. P. Arrow ridden by jockey Cornelio Velasquez with morning line odds of 20-1
- Loose Leaf ridden by jockey Eibar Coa, 15-1
- Past the Point ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, 15-1
- Divine Park ridden by jockey Alan Garcia Alan, 3-1
- Curlin ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, 3-5
- Dr. D. F. C. ridden by jockey Aldo Arboleda, 50-1
- Out of Control (BRZ) ridden by jockey John Velazquez, 12-1
- Wanderin Boy ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, 8-1
The Woodward Stakes is the 10th race in Saratoga’s August 30 horse racing program. Woodward post time is 5:45 pm. Included in its undercard is the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) at 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up (9th race).
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) created a fan site for 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin.
Horse racing fans of champion race horse Curlin can access Curlin’s Corner and view Curlin’s photo gallery, information about his career PPs and pedigree, watch videos of Curlin’s victories and workouts, listen to podcasts from his connections, read jockey Robby Alabarado’s blog, and many more.
The web site will give horse racing fans an interactive experience and allow them to keep up with the latest news on the 4-year-old Smart Strike, Curlin, as he prepares for his Saratoga Race Course debut in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday, August 30.
In his final prep for Saturday’s 55th running of Saratoga Race Course’s $500,000 Woodward Stakes, 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin breezed a half-mile in 49.14 Monday morning under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas.
Clockers caught the four-year-old chestnut colt in splits of 13.01 and 24.98, galloping out in 1:04. The move was the fourth fastest of 25 at the distance.
“He went really well, it was a nice, smooth half,” said assistant race horse trainer Scott Blasi. “We’re all excited about Saturday.”
Michael Iavarone, co-owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, said Wednesday he has no plans to enter his colt in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on August 30 despite an invitation from Jess Jackson, the majority owner of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin.
Race horse owner Jess Jackson offered to donate $50,000 to charity if Big Brown takes on Curlin in 1 1/8-mile Woodward on the dirt. Jess Jackson’s invitation comes after Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow said he thought Big Brown could beat Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on October 25.
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.
Reigning Horse of the Year and 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin drew post position 7 in his turf debut on Saturday’s $500,000 Man O’War Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park July 12.
Curlin will be racing in the 1 3/8-mile Man O’War Stakes with Breeders’ Cup Turf winners Better Talk Now (2004) and Red Rocks (2006).
Belmont Park’s Man O’War Stakes field with jockeys and weight line up as follows:
- Better Talk Now ridden by jockey Ramon Dominguez carries 120 lbs.
- Grand Couturier (GB) ridden by jockey Calvin Borel, 120 lbs.
- Mission Approved ridden by jockey David Cohen, 116 lbs.
- True Cause ridden by jockey Rajiv Maragh, 116 lbs.
- Sudan (IRE) ridden by jockey John Velazquez, 120 lbs.
- Red Rocks (IRE) ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, 116 lbs.
- Curlin ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, 116 lbs.
The Man O’War Stakes is the 9th race in Belmont Park’s July 12 horse racing program. Man O’War Stakes post time is 5:15 pm Eastern.
A group led by winemaker Jess Jackson paid $2.6 million for an 80% majority interest in rising star Curlin, who later won the Breeders Cup Classic and became Horse of the Year, in 2007.
The purchase price, long held secret, has been released for the first time in a motion filed in a civil case against Curlin’s two minority owners. Until Tuesday, the sale price had been reported to be in the $3.5 million range.
Reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin successfully completed the first step in what could be a journey to Paris to run in the famed Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a solid work under jockey Robby Albarado over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.
Stonestreet Stables and Midnight Cry Stable’s 4-year-old son of Smart Strike worked in company with Stonestreet’s Hawaii Calls, a 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus, and covered 7 furlongs around the “dogs” on “firm” turf in 1:31.20. The Steve Asmussen-trained champion started the work about one length behind his workmate, who is a 2-time winner in 8 career starts, and finished on even terms. Curlin finished well as Churchill Downs clockers recorded his final quarter mile in :24.20 and his final eighth in :12.20. He galloped out one mile in 1:45.30. Hawaii Calls was timed in 1:31.40 for the seven furlongs on turf.
“We were very excited to work him, he’s a tremendous athlete,” race horse trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We were very pleased with how he looked. The main thing is that Robby loved how he felt.”
Stonestreet Stables LLC and Midnight Cry Stables’ Curlin, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, drew away to a 4 1/4 length victory in the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) on Saturday, June 14, at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
Covering the Stephen Foster Handicap distance of 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.68, Curlin paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Einstein, a 3-time Grade 1 stakes winner on turf who was making a rare start on dirt, rallied under jockey Julien Leparoux to nip Barcola by a nose for second and paid $3.80 and $3.20. Barcola, under jockey Jesus Castanon, finished third and paid $6.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin has now won five consecutive races - a string that includes four Grade I events - and is unbeaten in three starts in 2008. The winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) last fall at Monmouth Park opened the year in Dubai with a pair of victories that included the $6 million Dubai World Cup and the Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
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