Curlin to be retired at the end of 2008

Curlin received a tour of Saratoga before his score in the Woodward (Adam Coglianese/NYRA Photographer)

CURLIN (Smart Strike), the 2007 Horse of the Year, is to be retired at the

end of 2008, according to majority owner Jess Jackson, and will begin stud

duties in 2009. However, the striking chestnut could have one more start this

season if an appropriate race shows up.

"If an appropriate venue and purse are offered, we would consider one more

race in 2008 for Curlin," Jackson said.

According to a press release sent out by Jackson's Stonestreet Farm, they are

considering "offers from stallion stations as well as possibly standing Curlin,"

themselves at Stonestreet near Lexington, Kentucky.

Curlin, a seven-time Grade/Group 1 winner, was last seen running fourth in

the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride surface. He

won that race as a sophomore last season by 4 1/2 lengths over the sloppy dirt

at Monmouth Park. After this year's Classic, the four-year-old was sent to

trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs, where he has been in light

training without posting an official workout.

Curlin has racked up 11 total victories, including the Preakness S. (G1),

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G2) as a three-year-old, and the

Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1) and his

second straight Gold Cup this year. He currently owns a career mark of 16-11-2-2

that also includes a third in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) and a near miss

head second in the Belmont S. (G1) to champion Rags to Riches, who became just

the third filly in history and the first since 1905 to take the "Test of

the Champion."