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Curlin glides five furlongs in :59 between races
Curlin appeared full of energy and eager to run. The four-year-old chestnut tracked Hawaii Calls to the far turn and easily assumed command through fractions of :23.56 and :47.09. Curlin smoothly pulled clear of his companion in the stretch, flicking his ears, and continued to stride over the ground well during his strong gallop-out, clocking six furlongs in 1:12.14. "I'm extremely pleased with the way he worked and galloped out," Asmussen said. "Carlos let him gallop out a quarter-mile and let him pull up. He was strong at every pole. Last Monday morning, Curlin had turned in an easy half-mile in :52 4/5 in his first recorded move on the track. His Columbus Day exercise was designed to simulate race conditions, later in the afternoon between the 4TH and 5TH races, to see how he would handle the synthetic surface in the heat of the day. The move came one day before Tuesday's pre-entries are taken for all 14 Breeders' Cup races, the first stage of a two-stage entry process. The first payment is due by noon Tuesday, and the second payment is due on October 21, when entries are taken for the Breeders' Cup events. "The bottom line is, we want to check him in the morning and make sure his legs are fine," Jackson said. "Usually if there's any injury, it would show up the next day. We hope to be able to enter him in the morning." "I just checked him at the barn, and he seems good," Asmussen said. "He's breathing well, and to this point we're extremely pleased. Tomorrow is pre-entry day and we'll make a decision then." Asmussen noted that Bridgmohan, who is currently based at Keeneland, was available this afternoon due to the fact he flew in to work Breeders' Cup Classic candidate Student Council (Kingmambo) this morning. "Shaun's done this many, many times with Curlin in company. We didn't want to leave anything to chance this afternoon," he said. Curlin recently became North America's all time richest Thoroughbred, courtesy of his second straight score in the September 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (G1) that pushed his earnings to $10,246,800 from a record of 15-11-2-2. The four-year-old chestnut has won five of six starts this season, including the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) by a record 7 3/4 lengths, the Stephen Foster H. (G1) and the Woodward S. (G1) prior to his Gold Cup triumph. "His consistency and durability is something that separates him. It's amazing for him to look like he does after making $10 million," Asmussen said. "We take a great amount of pride in him, and to see all the people here react like they did to him today…that's how we all feel about him back at the barn." Jackson also marveled at Curlin's ability to adapt to different conditions. "To be here in a different climate approximately 3,000 miles from where he was and the fact that he's been to Dubai…he's demonstrated tremendous adaptability. Winning the Breeders' Cup Classic is the cherry on the sundae as far as I'm concerned," Jackson said. In other Breeders' Cup news: Peter Pan S. (G2) hero CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft) came out of his three-quarters of a length victory at Santa Anita Sunday in good order. Now unbeaten in three career starts after his win under Victor Espinoza in the 1 1/16-mile allowance race, the Japanese-based sophomore is on schedule for the 1 1/4-mile Classic. "My horse is well," said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Casino Drive's owner, Hidetoshi Yamamoto, from his Hollywood Park headquarters Monday morning. "Everything is OK with him. "Casino Drive will have one more slow work at Hollywood, and I hope Victor will ride him in the Classic, although I haven't talked to him about it yet." Espinoza indicated after the Sunday race that he'd like the mount in the Classic. On a more sober note, Tada reflected on the injury that forced Big Brown out of the Classic, and into retirement, on Monday. "What happened to Big Brown could happen to us tomorrow," Tada said. "It happened to us the morning of the Belmont (G1)." A stone bruise in Casino Drive's left hind foot forced him to miss the Belmont, where he was attempting to follow in the hoofsteps of his half-siblings, Belmont winners Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and champion Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy).
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