Under the supervision of majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin worked five furlongs in 59.12 breezing, between races four and five Monday at Santa Anita in preparation for a defense of his
title in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic here on October 25.
Curlin works between races at Santa Anita.
The work was performed in company, as Curlin and stablemate Hawaii Calls came onto Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic main track at the top of the stretch in the quarter-mile chute. Curlin, with exercise rider Carlos Rosas up, and Hawaii Calls, with top jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, jogged under the wire and then galloped to the 5/8 pole, where Hawaii Calls broke off from the rail two lengths in front of Curlin. Curlin tracked Hawaii Calls to the far turn and easily assumed command through fractions of 23.56 and 47.09, striding out well at the wire and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.14.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I'm extremely pleased with the way he worked and galloped out. Carlos let him gallop out a quarter mile and let him pull up. He was strong at every pole."
Tuesday afternoon, which was also the deadline for pre-entries into the Breeders' Cup World Championships, in a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference Jackson said, "Everything is a go. Curlin showed yesterday that he can handle the (surface). It's a bit faster than any surface we've run on and that worries me a bit. It gives horses with less durability a chance to compete against him. This would add just one more dimension to the horse."
Curlin with exercise rider Carlos Rosas up and assistant trainer Scott Blasi aboard the pony horse Pancho.
Curlin, who has never finished worse than third in 15 career starts, has 11 wins and earnings of $10,246,800 making him the richest North American-based Thoroughbred of all-time.
Thanks to Marcie Heacox for the photos!
Breeders' Cup quick links:
2009 Breeders' Cup Entries and Post Positions - Final entries are up now with morning line odds and post positons for all 14 races. Zenyatta is the 5-2 favorite in the Classic and Careless Jewel is the 2-1 favorite in the Ladies Classic.
Review: Crushing the Cup 2009 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita.
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
European News - the latest on the Euro contenders from Sporting Life
Santa Anita area Hotels and Air Fare - The closest hotels to the track with rooms left with distance and pricing, plus links to get discount air fare online.
Breeders' Cup Wrap-up - An overview of the highlights, big achievements, attendance, and wagering figures for the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park.
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