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Curlin turns in final work for Woodward

Curlin will look to continue his dominance on the dirt (Mathea Kelley/Horsephotos.com) In his final prep for Saturday's $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga, 2007 Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) breezed a half-mile in :49 Monday morning over the fast Oklahoma training track under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas. Clockers caught the four-year-old chestnut colt in splits of :13 and 24 4/5, galloping out in 1:04. The move was the fourth fastest of 25 works at the distance. "He went really well, it was a nice, smooth half," Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said. "We're all excited about Saturday." Curlin will jog tomorrow, have a light gallop Wednesday and be schooled in the gate on Thursday, Blasi said. Last Thursday, during the running of the third race, Curlin drew a sizeable crowd as he was schooled in the Saratoga paddock. "Wherever it is, when he walks in, people notice," Blasi said. "The more seasoned he becomes, the more he plays to it."

Curlin, who has been stabled at Saratoga the past two summers, will be making his 10th Grade 1 start in the nine-furlong Woodward. After summering at Saratoga last year, he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

"(Being at Saratoga) was a big contribution to how he performed last year going into the fall and the Breeders' Cup," Blasi remarked. "Horses just do well up here. Oklahoma is a very good surface and we're fortunate to train over it."

Also expected for the Woodward are Metropolitan H. (G1) winner DIVINE PARK (Chester House), Grade 2 winner A.P. ARROW (A.P. Indy), and recent Saratoga winners PAST THE POINT (Indian Charlie) and WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold). The latter is a Grade 2 winner who is also multiple Grade 1-placed.

MERCHANT MARINE (Tiznow), a rough-trip sixth in the Whitney H. (G1) earlier this meet, is also a possibility. He worked seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 over Saratoga's fast main track Monday morning.

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