Curlin's Arc hopes dented by Red Rocks in Man o' War

Red Rocks proved to be a stumbling block for Curlin (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) was hoping to use his turf debut in Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War S. (G1) as a fast lane to France, but he found his grassy path strewn with RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]). The 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero struck the front inside the final furlong and had too much firepower late, holding Curlin at bay by two lengths at the wire. Under an astute ride by Javier Castellano, the English invader completed 1 3/8 miles on Belmont Park's firm inner turf in 2:12 3/5, calling into question Curlin's status for the October 5 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). "(Red Rocks) hasn't been given the kudos he deserves since (he won) the Breeders' Cup," trainer Brian Meehan observed. "Today, he confirmed he is one of the best middle distance turf horses in the world, and has been for the last two, three years." In the immediate aftermath of Curlin's runner-up effort, his connections were careful not to make snap decisions about his future prospects for the turf. "Obviously, he didn't grab me like he normally does," regular rider Robby Albarado said. "It wasn't an awful race. His acceleration was a little different. I would like to see him get another chance, another shot on turf. It's like a first race for him, a new chapter. He's got tons of talent, and maybe that's what got him second today. He felt comfortable over it. To say he loves it? Maybe next time will be his 'show-up' race."

"We just didn't see that late kick from him today," principal owner Jess

Jackson said. "I don't know if that was because he is still getting used to the

turf or what. These are some of the things I will have to talk to (trainer)

Steve (Asmussen) about. My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test.

We know what he can do on dirt, and that is always an option.

"I'm disappointed, but this is not a setback," Jackson continued. "And the

horse that beat him is a very good horse, and I congratulate them on a great

race."

"We'll just evaluate how he comes out of the race," Asmussen said. "He was a

step slow coming out of the gate. He looked like he ran second to a Breeders'

Cup winner."

Curlin actually hit the gate at the break, and the 2-5 favorite wound up

settling into a distant fourth in the early going. Up front, Mission Approved

(With Approval) and Sudan (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) sprinted to the fore, and as

they battled through searching fractions of :22 3/5, :47 3/5, 1:11 4/5 and 1:35

4/5, they opened up by as many as 10 lengths on the field. Red Rocks was

perfectly positioned in third in his first-time blinkers, with several lengths

to spare over Curlin.

Turning for home, Sudan put away his pace rival, but the rest of the field,

led by Red Rocks, was closing the gap. Curlin was also being driven by Albarado,

and the champion was beginning to launch his move. As Sudan wilted from his

early exploits, Red Rocks kicked into high gear and took command. Curlin kept on

gamely, but he could not counter the winner's thrust. Still, he did enough to

stave off the late rush of Better Talk Now (Talkin Man), the 2004 Breeders' Cup

Turf star, by a half-length.

"That was a dream trip for my horse," Castellano said of his view aboard Red

Rocks. "I sat behind the speed, made my move and then waited for the late kick

of Curlin. I didn't see Curlin for a while, but because I had such a great trip,

I thought I would be able to hold on."

Dispatched as the 6-1 third choice, Red Rocks returned $14.40, $4 and $2.90.

Curlin provided mutuels of $2.50 and $2.10, while the 5-1 Better Talk Now gave

back $2.70. The exacta totaled $32, and the 6-7-1 trifecta was worth $76. Sudan

crossed the wire another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. True Cause

(Storm Cat), Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge) and a tailed-off Mission

Approved rounded out the order of finish.

Red Rocks' fourth career stakes score improved his mark to 19-6-4-3,

$2,822,768. In addition to his Breeders' Cup Turf coup, the J. Paul Reddam

colorbearer captured the 2006 Fairway S. and the 2007 Gordon Richards S.

(Eng-G3). The dark bay, who was third as the defending champion in last year's

Turf, has also placed in such top-level events as the St Leger (Eng-G1) and

Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1). The five-year-old was coming off a disappointing

sixth in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1) at Epsom, where he failed to handle the

undulations.

Bred by Ballylinch Stud in Ireland, Red Rocks attracted a winning bid of

$160,108 as a yearling at the Goffs Orby sale. He is out of the stakes-winning

Machiavellian mare Pharmacist, who has also produced Irish stakes victor and

multiple Group 2-placed Medicinal (Linamix) and an unraced juvenile filly named

Pill (Linamix). Red Rocks' second dam, Pharaoh's Delight (Fairy King), captured

the 1989 Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) and placed in four other Group 1 events.