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.Curlin Preps For 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic
Posted on Monday, October 20th, 2008
Curlin put in his third workout on Santa Anita Park‘s synthetic surface Monday, breezing 4 furlongs in 49.60 seconds to prep for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The reigning Horse of the Year Curlin comes in as North America’s all-time leading money winner with earnings of more than $10 million and will defend his Breeders’ Cup Classic title on October 25.
“We don’t feel like he owes us something,” race horse trainer Steve Asmussen said. “You just want him to run his race, and what a stage this is.”
Curlin has been at Santa Anita since September 28, testing himself over the synthetic surface, something he’s never raced on before. He’ll be ridden Saturday by jockey Robby Albarado, who’s been aboard for all but one of Curlin’s 15 career starts.
Communique Off The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Field
Filly Communique was declared out of the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf after developing an abscess in her right front foot.
“It’s not serious, but the timing is obviously bad,” race horse trainer G.R. Arnold said Monday from Keeneland in Kentucky. “The plan is to race her next year.”
The 4-year-old filly Communique won a pair of stakes before finishing second in the Beverly D. at Arlington Park and third in the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on September 27.
Communique joins Red Giant and Tropic Storm on the sidelines. Red Giant was one of the Breeders’ Cup favorites for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf, but was knocked out by a temperature. Tropic Storm, pre-entered in both the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, has a soft tissue injury.
European Imports In The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic
Turf stars Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Raven’s Pass were on planes from Britain and Ireland headed to Santa Anita on Monday.
All three are entered in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator are trained by Irishman Aidan O’Brien, while jockey John Murtagh is the regular rider of both.
Jockey John Murtagh will ride one of those horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while American jockey John Velazquez will be aboard the other.
Bobby Frankel’s Mast Track
Race horse trainer Bobby Frankel is putting a lot of himself and his wallet into starting Mast Track in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Hall of Famer trains the 4-year-old colt, whom he bred and also owns. Bobby Frankel had to fork over $125,000 of his own money to get Mast Track into Saturday’s horse race.
“It’s not some other owner’s money,” Bobby Frankel said. “To be honest, I don’t know if I can win that race. Probably can’t. But I think he can get a piece. One thing I know for sure, he’ll be in front.”
Later Monday, Mast Track was found to have a quarter crack in his hoof, leaving his status in doubt. Breeders’ Cup Classic entries close Tuesday morning.
“I’m going to check him in the morning and then we’ll make a call,” Bobby Frankel said. “He might not run. We’ll have to see how bad it is.”
Bobby Frankel also trained Mast Track’s sire, Mizzen Mast, and his dam, Nawal, too. Jockey Tyler Baze will ride the colt. They teamed to win the Hollywood Gold Cup going wire-to-wire in June.
Tags: Communique, Curlin, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, Mast Track, Raven's Pass, Red Giant, Tropic Storm
"Curlin Preps For 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic" was posted on Monday, October 20th, 2008 at 11:41 pm and is filed under Breeders' Cup, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Owners & Breeders, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, 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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