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Curlin installed as 3-5 favorite over seven Woodward rivals
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Curlin took a tour of the Spa's paddock
(Adam Coglianese/NYRA Photographer) |
Reigning Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) will make his Saratoga debut
when he faces seven rivals in Saturday's $500,000
Woodward
S. (G1). Winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and Stephen Foster H. (G1)
this season, the four-year-old colt exits a runner-up finish on the turf in the
Man o' War S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero will
return to his preferred dirt surface and break from post five under regular
rider Robby Albarado.
"One of the great things about (owner) Mr. (Jess) Jackson keeping him in
training is being able to run in this race, with its history," assistant trainer
Scott Blasi said. "There are only so many opportunities. We've never dodged
anyone, and we're never had one given us -- he's always had to earn it."
Conditioned by Steve Asmussen, Curlin has been installed as the 3-5 choice on
the morning line for the 55th edition of the Woodward. DIVINE PARK (Chester
House), who was last seen winning the Metropolitan H. (G1) over next-out
Whitney H. (G1) victor Commentator (Distorted Humor), will bring a three-race
winning streak into the 1 1/8-mile event and is listed as the 3-1 second choice.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained four-year-old will stretch out to nine furlongs
for the first time and keeps Alan Garcia in the saddle.
Multiple Grade 2 turf winner OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), second by a nose in the
Manhattan H. (G1) most recently, will switch back to the dirt for trainer Bobby
Frankel. The five-year-old horse hasn't started on a conventional dirt surface
since finishing third in an allowance in March 2007. Grade 2 king and multiple
Grade 1 runner-up WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold), a smart allowance/optional
claiming winner over the track last out for Nick Zito, is also entered.
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One race earlier on the card, 10 sprinters will contest the $250,000
Forego S.
(G1) over seven furlongs. LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky Roberto), a good-looking
4 1/4-length winner of the Tom Fool H. (G2) in his last outing, looms as the
solid favorite. The McLaughlin runner will bring a four-race winning skein into
the 29th running of the event, and Garcia will once again be in the irons.
Other contenders include Grade 3 winner and last-out Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.
(G2) runner-up FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled's Song), who finished second in the 2007
King's Bishop S. (G1) at the Spa; multiple Grade 2-runner-up FOREFATHERS (Gone
West), who rolled to a 6 1/2-length allowance/optional claiming score in his
last start for Bill Mott; and the improving ETERNAL STAR (Five Star Day), a
former claimer who has won his last three starts and exits a victory in the
James Marvin S. earlier in the meet.
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