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By GREG MELIKOV
Ten of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races could have full fields as a record 180 thoroughbreds were pre-entered for the two-day program at Santa Anita Park.
That’s good news for horseplayers because the larger the fields, the better the payoffs, Historically, exotic wagers produced big bucks during the 24-year history of America’s premier horse racing day.
Fields this year might average 12.78 compared to 11.69 at Monmouth Park in 2007 when 122 horses were pre-entered in 11 Breeders’ Cup contests. That doesn’t count horses entered in two races in case they don’t get realize their first choice.
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.
Keeneland will handle the sale of the minority share of Curlin, the richest American race horse.
The deadline is November 5 for potential buyers to submit a sealed bid for the 20% stake in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year.
The 80% majority interest, held by Jess Jackson, isn’t affected by the sale.
Curlin will attempt to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park. The announcement came a day after Big Brown retired due to an injury.
An initial entry payment was due Tuesday. A second and final entry payment for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is due on October 21. Race horses pre-entered in the 14 Breeders’ Cup races will be announced Thursday.
Curlin is expected to take on the undefeated Japanese colt Casino Drive and some of Europe’s top race horses in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup which will be run on a synthetic track for the first time.
2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin ran 5 furlongs between races on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface Monday, with owner Jess Jackson saying he hopes to enter the reigning Horse of the Year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
With Jess Jackson and race horse trainer Steve Asmussen looking on, Curlin covered the distance in 59.12 seconds in preparation for a defense of his title in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25.
Pre-entries for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be taken Tuesday.
“We want to check him in the morning and make sure his legs are fine,” Jess Jackson said. “Usually if there’s any injury, it would show up the next day. We hope to be able to enter him in the morning.”
Race horse Curlin will have a 5-furlong workout on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface between races Monday in another step toward determining whether he will run in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25.
Steve Asmussen is expected to fly in from his Texas base to oversee Curlin’s workout, as he did this past Monday when Curlin drilled a half-mile in 52.80 seconds. The defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner galloped a mile Wednesday.
A decision on whether Curlin will compete against Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown and some of Europe’s top horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic must be made soon since pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup will be announced October 16.
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be run October 24-25 at Santa Anita Park.
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.
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.
Curlin galloped 2 miles on Santa Anita Park’s synthetic track Sunday in what could lead to a possible showdown with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown in the October 25 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Race horse trainer Steve Asmussen was expected to arrive in the evening to supervise Curlin’s first official workout over the track at a half-mile Monday.
Owner Jess Jackson has yet to commit Curlin to run in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic pending how the reigning Horse of the Year handles the Pro-Ride surface.
Santa Anita will host the 2008 Breeders’ Cup races on October 24-25.
Curlin passed Cigar to become the all-time leading money winner in North America horse racing betting on Saturday after he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Curlin rallied past Wanderin Boy to win by almost a length as the 2-5 horse betting favorite. The victory pushed Curlin past the $10 million dollar mark in earnings to $10.2 million, surpassing Cigar who was just under $10 million.
Curlin took home the $450,000 first place prize and become just the ninth horse to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup two straight years. Curlin was held back early in the race by jockey Robby Albarado because he didn’t want Curlin going too wide. Curlin split horses entering the far turn and was third but still had to go five wide. He was able to get past Wanderin Boy at the eighth pole and came home in 2:01.93. Curlin paid $2.80 to win for the horse betting gamblers that backed him. “I had to sacrifice some position and suck on in to be able to save ground before I got to the turn, and it worked out beautiful for me,” Albarado said. “Curlin put in his patented run around the outside, and I got that same feeling every time.” Wanderin Boy finished second for the second time in three years in the Jockey Club Gold Cup while Merchant Marine finished third.
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin arrived from New York to California at 5 pm today to begin training on Santa Anita Park’s new synthetic surface in anticipation of a possible start in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25.
Owner Jess Jackson has said he first wants to test Curlin on the Pro-Ride surface before committing to run him against Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown and some of Europe’s top horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown has already been committed to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and will ship to California from New York a few days before the race.
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