Curlin, Tiz Wonderful work in company for Asmussen

Curlin, who just caught Street Sense in the final stride of the Preakness, could meet him again in the Haskell (Matt Wooley/Horsephotos.com)

Preakness S. (G1) winner CURLIN (Smart Strike) and unbeaten Kentucky Jockey

Club S. (G2) winner TIZ WONDERFUL (Tiznow) worked as a team on Monday at

Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Curlin, who has not started since finishing second by a head to Kentucky Oaks

(G1) heroine Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in the Belmont S. (G1) on June 9, and

Tiz Wonderful, who has been away from racing since his victory in the Kentucky

Jockey Club at Churchill Downs last November, breezed six furlongs in company in

1:12 4/5 over a fast track.

Curlin finished about a neck in front of his stablemate and was going the

better of the two throughout the move. Tiz Wonderful, under exercise rider

Carmen Rosas, broke off about 2 1/2 lengths in front of Curlin, who had jockey

Robby Albarado astride. Curlin quickly narrowed his deficit to about a length

and remained just behind and to the outside of his workmate around the far turn.

Curlin, with Albarado motionless in the irons, eased up alongside Tiz Wonderful

in upper stretch as the latter worked hard to keep up with his classic-winning

stablemate.

The pair were together down the lane until Curlin nudged ahead near the wire

with no visible encouragement from Albarado. Fractional times for the work were

:13, :25 2/5, :37 1/5, :49 1/5 and 1:01 2/5. Both horses galloped out seven

furlongs in 1:25 4/5.

"I think it was an excellent work," Asmussen said. "Tiz (Wonderful) blew

quite a bit, which he needed. How he comes out of it and what he does from here

will be very important."

Curlin is pointing toward the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on

August 5 at Monmouth Park. Tiz Wonderful, who was sidelined with a tendon

injury, is aiming for the $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga.