Curlin will seek earnings record while defending his Gold Cup title

Curlin will seek earnings record while defending his Gold

Cup title

Reigning Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) is set to become the

all-time leading Thoroughbred money earner in North America when he defends his

title in Saturday's $750,000

Jockey

Club Gold Cup (G1), and the exceptional four-year-old towers over his eight

opponents. The 1 1/4-mile event will likely be the well-built chestnut's final

start in New York, and Belmont Park has plenty more to offer with four Grade 1

events on the undercard.

After capturing the 2007 runnings of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1),

Preakness S. (G1), Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and Jockey Club Gold Cup,

Curlin could've headed to stud. Instead, owner Jess Jackson brought him back to

the races, and Curlin responded with four wins in five starts this season, the

only setback being a commendable second in the Man o' War S. (G1) on turf. He

romped in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and Stephen Foster H. (G1), and exits a 1

1/4-length score in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga.

"It's so exciting to think he might break the record," said Jackson of

Curlin, who has earned $9,796,800 and will pass Cigar ($9,999,815) with the Gold

Cup's $450,000 winner's share. "But first, he's got to win."

The Steve Asmussen-trained colt will break from post 5 with regular rider

Robby Albarado.

Travers S. (G1) runner-up MAMBO IN SEATTLE (Kingmambo) will receive a

four-pound allowance under the weight-for-age conditions of the Gold Cup, and

the sophomore colt will be seeking his first graded win. He exits a pair of

highly encouraging performances, taking his stakes debut, the Henry Walton S. at

Saratoga,  prior to a heartbreaking second in the 10-furlong Travers. The

Neil Howard pupil, who lost by the slimmest of nose decisions last time, will

pick up the services of Edgar Prado. Todd Pletcher will send out 2007 Clark H.

(G2) winner A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) and Grade 3 victor RAVEL (Fusaichi Pegasus),

and Nick Zito is responsible for Grade 2-winning millionaire WANDERIN BOY

(Seeking the Gold). Last-out Devil Diver S. winner MERCHANT MARINE (Tiznow) owns

a five-for-six mark at Belmont and is trained by Allen "Giant Killer" Jerkens.

The stakes action gets underway with the $600,000

Beldame S.

(G1), which will feature reigning champion female GINGER PUNCH (Awesome

Again). Trained by Bobby Frankel, the five-year-old mare will bring a four-race

winning streak into the nine-furlong test and will attempt to make amends for a

third-place showing in last year's Beldame. She does own two Grade 1 wins at

Belmont, and the chestnut will face only four rivals on Saturday, including 2007

Beldame heroine UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow). Third in the Personal Ensign (G1)

most recently, the Pletcher-trained Unbridled Belle has earned more than $1.5

million from 17 career starts. The improving LEMON DROP MOM (Lemon Drop Kid),

who missed by only a nose to Ginger Punch in the Personal Ensign and finished

second in the Delaware H. (G2) two starts back, will be seeking her first graded

win, and Godolphin's COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court), an impressive stakes

performer in Dubai this winter, merits respect off her good-looking U.S. debut,

a five-length score in the Love Sign S. at Saratoga on August 29.

MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), arguably the nation's best turf distaffer

so far this season, is the top draw in the $600,000

Flower

Bowl Invitational S. (G1). The five-year-old mare has blossomed under the

care of Christophe Clement this year, winning five-of-six attempts, including

her last four starts. Mauralakana offered a terrific turn of foot to record an

authoritative victory in the Beverly D. S. (G1) last out, and she entered that

race off wins in the New York S. (G2) and Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) at Belmont

Park. Last-out Glen Falls H. (G3) victress HOSTESS (Chester House) and multiple

Grade 3 winner COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) are also part of the six-horse field in

the 1 1/4-mile affair over the inner turf.

Seven runners will contest $400,000

Vosburgh

S. (G1), and the six-furlong event has come up salty. FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart

Strike), a smashing 5 3/4-length winner of the 2007 edition, owns a

three-for-four mark at Belmont and obviously merits serious respect, but the

Todd Beattie-trained gelding has started only once since last year's Vosburgh,

winning the Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial S. at Delaware Park on June 21. Tom

Fool H. (G2) and Bold Ruler H. (G3) winner LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) is

eligible to rebound from a sixth as the favorite in the Forego S. (G1) last out

in which he stumbled at the start and probably lost all chance. Forego hero

FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled's Song) appears to be coming on strong for Frankel, and

J BE K (Silver Deputy) is the most accomplished sophomore sprinter in the land,

registering three graded victories this season under the direction of Steve

Asmussen. Multiple Grade 2 winner KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse), who suffered a troubled

trip when fifth in the King's Bishop S. (G1) last time, is a contender for Larry

Jones.

The $600,000

Joe

Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) will pit nine horses over 1 1/2 miles

on the Widener Turf, and Manhattan H. (G1) winner DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) and

two-time Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) king GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge)

own top credentials. STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike) has been knocking on the door

of his first graded stakes win, recording runner-up finishes in the United

Nations S. (G1) and Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) in his last two outings, and SUMMER

PATRIOT (Unbridled's Song) will bring strong form into his graded debut, taking

the John's Call S. at Saratoga by 7 3/4 lengths in his last outing. Grade 2

victor PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) also figures to draw support off his

runner-up finish to Big Brown (Boundary) in the Monmouth S.