Printer Friendly Page 

Curlin grinds it out for Woodward score

Curlin returned to the winner's circle in his Saratoga debut (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) CURLIN (Smart Strike) fired a shot across the bow at the connections and supporters of Big Brown (Boundary), his main rival for Horse of the Year honors, in taking Saturday's $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga. But it wasn't his prettiest victory, as he needed much of the stretch to overtake the front-running Past the Point (Indian Charlie) before drawing away for a 1 1/4-length triumph under regular pilot Robby Albarado. The stretch run was reminiscent of Big Brown's grinding performance in the August 3 Haskell Invitational (G1) where he, too, had to work hard to finish off a rival who had been loose on the lead. However unappealing to the eye to Curlin's legion of followers, his Woodward victory was still that and left him virtually one win away from becoming North America's all-time leading money winner. With the $300,000 winner's check from the Woodward, Curlin's career earnings drifted to $9,796,800, surpassing the total of $9,616,360 amassed by Skip Away, who had been in second place behind Cigar and his record total of $9,999,815.  Perhaps Curlin's relatively lackluster performance was affected by a troubled opening quarter-mile, which saw him carried out by second choice Divine Park (Chester House) in the clubhouse turn and brushing with Out of Control (Brz) (Vettori). He was brushed again down the backside while racing in the four path, but easily put away Divine Park around the far turn while taking aim at long-time leader Past the Point, who cut out fractions of :22 4/5, :46 1/5 and 1:09 3/5. Despite the solid early clip, Wanderin Boy (Seeking the Gold), who tracked in second behind that leader, never presented a real challenge, and it was left to Curlin to turn a wide rally into victory over the 40-1 Past the Point. Still a head behind after that rival reached the mile in 1:35 1/5, Curlin finally got past to finish up nine furlongs in 1:49 1/5 over a fast track.

"The pace was very, very rapid, but Curlin got away in good order," Albarado said. "I was a little wider than I wanted to be around the first turn, but he gave me an indication on the backside that he would be there for me. We were between two horses and getting bounced around a little, but he is a big horse and he handled it."

Slightly less than 2-5 in the field of seven, Curlin returned $2.70, $2.40 and $2.10 while keying the $41.80 exacta and $185 trifecta (5-3-8). Past the Point easily held second by 1 1/2 lengths and brought back $13.80 and $6.40, while the 8-1 Wanderin Boy safely held third by four lengths for a $3.50 mutuel. A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy), Loose Leaf (Notebook), Divine Park and Out of Control rounded out the order of finish. Dr. D. F. C. (Personal Flag) was scratched.

The Woodward was the fourth win in five races this year for Curlin, who carried a career-high 132 pounds in a Dubai handicap in his seasonal debut in February, and then easily captured the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) by a record 7 3/4 lengths on March 29. The reigning Horse of the Year, Curlin later captured the Stephen Foster H. (G1) while hauling 128 pounds, but was defeated in his turf debut in the Man o' War S. (G1) on July 12 in what was to have been a prep toward a possible start in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Curlin finished second to Red Rocks (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) in the Man o' War, and the Arc is no longer under consideration for the Steve Asmussen-trained chestnut, whose line now reads 14-10-2-2.

Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm Inc., Curlin sold for $57,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and was originally campaigned by Midnight Cry Stable, which retains a 20-percent interest. Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables now owns majority interest in the colt.

Curlin is the first stakes winner out of the unraced Sherriff's Deputy (Deputy Minister), who has since produced an unnamed yearling filly by Saint Liam. This is the same family as 1997 champion two-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) victress Countess Diana (Deerhound) as well as the ill-fated multiple Grade 1-winning Exogenous (Unbridled).

More Graded Recaps:

Bradester takes flight in Salvator Mile

Dogwood Trail leads to Azalea winner's circle

Grand Bili captures Carry Back

Big Blue Kitten regains United Nations title

Merry Meadow crowned in Princess Rooney

Send this article to a friend