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Curlin takes half-mile spin on Pro-Ride

Curlin strides out at Santa Anita (Benoit Photo)
Reigning Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) worked for the first time over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface Monday, covering a half-mile in a leisurely :52 4/5 in preparation for a possible showdown with Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner BIG BROWN (Boundary) in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita October 25.

It was Curlin's first work since winning the September 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park, a race he won last year en route to a dominating score in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Monmouth Park.

Curlin's trainer, Steve Asmussen, who was at Santa Anita to witness the work, said he was in no hurry to decide if Curlin would run in the Classic. Asmussen wishes to make sure that Curlin handles the Pro-Ride surface, and will discuss his observations with the colt's majority owner, Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable. Should he run in the Classic, it would be the colt's first race on a synthetic surface.

"He looked around quite a bit," Asmussen said. "It'll be interesting the next time he gets on the track. We just wanted to put his mind at ease and let him do all the acclimating.

"I don't think there was any decision to be made today," Asmussen added. "We're going to show Curlin the patience he deserves and we're going to do what we think is right."

Curlin wowed the world with a facile win in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and later added victories in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1). He surpassed Cigar as North America's all-time leading money winner in capturing his second consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup, and his bankroll now stands at $10,246,800. Curlin's only loss in six starts this season was a second-place effort in the Man o' War S. (G1) at Belmont Park, his first foray on grass.

The Asmussen-trained STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo) also worked for the Classic on Monday, clocking six furlongs in 1:15 3/5.

Big Brown, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., will continue to train at his Aqueduct home base until the week of the Breeders' Cup Classic. His last work was a five-furlong move on dirt in 1:04 1/5 on September 30. The three-year-old was expected to breeze again early this week, with Dutrow saying he would prefer to prepare the colt on the turf in his next few breezes for the Classic.

Japanese invader CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft) is training at Hollywood Park, and might not have a prep race for the Classic, according to Nobutaka Tada, the racing manager for Casino Drive's connections.

Casino Drive, the winner of the Peter Pan S. (G2) in May at Belmont Park, was scratched the morning of the Belmont S. (G1) with a foot bruise. A half-brother to Belmont S. winners Jazil and Rags to Riches, Casino Drive has not raced since the Peter Pan. A few days after the Belmont Stakes, he was returned to Japan, and then was flown back to the United States recently for a run at the Classic.


 


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