Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Breeders’ Cup Challenge Results: Curlin Wins Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park & Makes Horse Racing History
Posted on Saturday, September 27th, 2008
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin made horse racing history and became the first American thoroughbred to eclipse the $10 million mark in earnings Saturday as he came from behind to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at a sloppy Belmont Park.
With his 11th victory in 15 starts, Curlin took home $450,000 to raise his career earnings to $10,246,800. The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike passed Cigar, who earned $9,999,815 in 33 career starts.
“It’s amazing,” Curlin jockey Robby Albarado said. “I’m sure it is not going to hit me for a while. I’m sure this record will be broken one day, but it will take a helluva horse.”
“It was very emotional for me,” Curlin race horse trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I was very excited and very proud of everybody involved… We had two back-to-back $5 million years. Robby didn’t turn the stick over on him today, and the horse looked.”
Jockey Robby Albarado kept Curlin in the middle of the pack as Wanderin Boy set the pace in the 1 1/4-mile race through fractions of :24 3/5, :48 3/5 and six furlongs in 1:13. As the field moved into the turn, Albarado asked Curlin for more, and he moved three-wide toward the lead over the muddy track.
“Robby was really comfortable down the backside,” Steve Asmussen said. “I think he knows who he is on, and he let it sort out in front of him. He looked comfortable around the far turn, lost a little bit of position on the backside when Robby decided he didn’t want to be that wide. He immediately moved up in the bridle and came into the stretch the way you wanted him to be.”
Curlin, who carried 126 pounds, gradually wore down Wanderin Boy, a 7-1 shot, and pulled in front, winning by 3/4 of a length. The 2-5 favorite Curlin returned $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10.
“He just ran his race again and gave me that big Curlin move again on the turn,” jockey Robby Albarado said. “It was tremendous - and very emotional. The bar is set against him every time, but he exceeds our expectations every time he runs.”
Wanderin Boy held on for second, paying $4.20 and $3.70. Merchant Marine was third, returning $5.70.
“I got beat by the best horse, and he’s an excellent horse,” said Wanderin Boy joceky Alan Garcia. “My horse ran his race. I’m happy. (Trainer) Nick Zito keeps doing the job, but Curlin was much the best today.”
“Curlin is in a different league,” Wanderin Boy race horse trainer Nick Zito added. “I take my hat off to him. He had to be that good today.”
The 2007 Preakness winner, Curlin posted his seventh straight win on dirt, a streak that began in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last year. Curlin became the ninth horse to capture this race in consecutive years, joining Mad Hatter (1921-22), Dark Secret (1933-34), Nashua (1955-56), Kelso (1960-64), the mare Shuvee (1970-71), Slew o’Gold (1983-84), Creme Fraiche (1986-87) and Skip Away (1996-97). Firethorn won the Gold Cup in both 1935 and 1937.
Curlin’s only non-victory this year came in his turf debut at Belmont Park in July, when he was runner-up to Breeders’ Cup Turf champion Red Rocks in the Man o’War Stakes.
A showdown with reigning Preakness and Kentucky Derby champion Big Brown looms at the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 in Santa Anita Park. However, Curlin’s connections have expressed concern that the race will be over the synthetic surface at the California track.
“We’ll probably load him up, but first we’ll have to get him adjusted,” said Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, who will depart for Santa Anita on Sunday. “But it is up to him whether he likes the track and the surface. So, those are concerns we still have. But we’ll consider it now that we’re past this hurdle. That’s the next prospect for us and we’ll give it every bit of attention.”
“If (Big Brown) is truly going to the big race, we’ll have to see whether Curlin likes the track. We’re not trying to avoid him and there is always the Clark (November 8 at Churchill Downs) after that or the Japan Cup (December 7 on dirt). So we have to take them one at a time,” added Jess Jackson. “I don’t want to risk a horse of Curlin’s stature that we need in the gene pool. So I am being very cautious and doing my due diligence first.”
Mambo in Seattle was fourth in Belmont Park’s Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational followed by Ravel, Stones River, A. P. Arrow and Angliana. Timber Reserve was scratched.
Horse racing tags: A. P. Arrow, Angliana, Curlin, Mambo in Seattle, Merchant Marine, Ravel, Stones River, Timber Reserve, Wanderin Boy
"Breeders’ Cup Challenge Results: Curlin Wins Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park & Makes Horse Racing History" was posted on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 at 11:24 pm and is filed under Belmont Park, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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