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 To Race In The Stephen Foster Handicap June 14 at Churchill Downs
Posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Reigning Horse of the Year, Curlin, is headed towards the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on Saturday, June 14, at Churchill Downs. This will be Curlin’s first start in the USA as a 4-year-old.
Horse trainer Steve Asmussen was displeased with the 128-pound weight assignment for his star but said Curlin remains on target.
The son of Smart Strike, Curlin, completed four furlongs over a “fast” track in :49 with exercise rider Carlos Rosas in the saddle Monday morning. The Steve Asmussen trainee covered the distance in fractions of :12.60, :24.60 and :37. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80.
“We like where he’s at — he’s an awesome horse,” Asmussen said. “It’s all about Curlin now, the other things are out of your control. To not run him would be an injustice to him. But giving solid horses 15 pounds is a challenge. I guess they were happy the day they got Azeri beat here.”
Asmussen referred to the 2004 running of Churchill Downs’ Humana Distaff (G1) in which 2002 “Horse of the Year” Azeri, who carried 124 pounds, was upset by Mayo On the Side, who had been assigned 114 and edged the champion by a head.
Curlin carried 132 pounds in his 2008 debut in the Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, then he toted 126 pounds in a 7 3/4-length romp in the $6 million Dubai World Cup (G1) over the same track on March 29. Steve Asmussen said he thought 126 pounds would have been a more equitable weight assignment for Curlin in the Stephen Foster Handicap.
“When you look at it, you’re giving quality horses 15 pounds and that’s quite significant,” Asmussen said. “He must overcome. They didn’t put him back in training to debate weights.”
Last year, Curlin won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park. He finished third to Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness and was a runner-up in the Belmont Stakes. He also earned an Eclipse Award last year. Curlin has a career record of 8-1-2 in 11 races with earnings of $8,807,800.
Curlin, will be ridden by regular jockey Robby Albarado in Stephen Foster Handicap.
The Stephen Foster Handicap horse race has a value of $750,000-added, but a Churchill Downs purse supplement of $250,000 will drive the Stephen Foster purse to a record $1 million if at least one winner of a previous Grade I stakes race competes on Saturday.
Other Grade 1 winners among the 29 nominees for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap horse race include Perfect Drift, the 2003 Foster winner; Student Council, winner of the recent Pimlico Special and last year’s Pacific Classic; Brass Hat, who won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in 2006; Great Hunter, winner of the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in 2006; and Einstein, winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and two-time winner of the Gulfstream Park Turf.
Tags: Curlin
"Curlin To Race In The Stephen Foster Handicap June 14 at Churchill Downs" was posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 10:15 pm and is filed under Churchill Downs, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, 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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Curlin Starts From Rail In The Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs June 14
Sunday, June 15th, 2008 8:54 pm By Junetta Richardson
When and where will Curlin race next time?
Sorry I missed the last one that he won at the Stephen Foster in Belmont.
A devoted Curlin fan.
Junetta R.
Monday, June 16th, 2008 12:57 am By HRNewsman
As per Steve Asmussen, Curlin’s future plans may include either the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, the Japan Cup or both instead of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.