That is probably the ONLY race that would enhance his stud value. I am sure there are others over there, but I am not familiar with them.

Would that be the "curlin slam"?

Whether the earnings records is important or not, I have no idea. I would think so. Why does he have to go to CA to do that? I think the horse will drive the dance card, not the earnings record. Turf? Why? To prove he has "versatility" and to add to his stallion resume? Poly? I don't think anyone has to worry about that. Jackson doesn't need to "make" a stallion.

Nothing against CA racing, however, CA races do not add prestige to making a commercial stallion -- not in KY. There are of course exceptions, but it's certainly not the norm. I am not quite sure this will be a "commercial" stallion so to speak.

Eric

I think he needs the Classic to break Cigar's record, so CA is important. I think he needs a couple million dollars more to break that record, so hes got to win one $5 Mil race or a couple $1 and $2 Mil...

Wasn't he at $5.3m or so before today? If so today's purse puts him at around $8.9m -- no? Not that there are tons of them, but where are the other $1m races for him? And, do they fit into his schedule better?

Actually, CA fits because of the BC. Duh, now I am thinking, LOL. Got it.

Eric

In all due respect to my colleague across town, IMO as soon as the court settlement is finished, so is this horse. I'll bet you see him go to to breeding shed so fast it will make your head spin. Also, Hard Spun never got to show us his real stuff. I know this sounds very cynical, but I think lately it seems we breed and train our horses for selling them to Gondolphin or Darley.
Yours for more claiming ranks.

he's at just over 8 million according to what they said yesterday post-race.

i don't see him going to del mar based on what that track was like last year. he's never run on poly has he? they may pull a mineshaft and just retire him before the bc if he has the earnings by then.

he might be race ready again by stephen foster time, i could see him going there.

i agree del mar is the kind of place the horse could lose. i hated that surface. it would be nice to see him here for the whitney, but the moneys not right. basically its just time before he breaks the record. he is running against a bunch, of also-rans.

In my mind he has already solidified his stature as a stallian, he's by a hot sire in 'Smart Strike' in addition being out of the valuable Mr. Prospector line, I would have to believe his book will be filled once he enters that line of work with and his fee will be an open cheque.

With the other next best horses being Heatseeker or Grasshopper in the division, I'm not sure what else he needs to prove, the only thing he has left is going for the earnings record and a second BC classic win. I guess there is nothing more to do but just enjoy seeing him run.

The whole theory behind running Curlin in Dubai once before the Dubai World Cup was done only because Asmussen believes strongly that Curlin is better the 2nd time he races over a track.

He said in an interview, that was his only reason for doing it.

He mentioned how he ran much better the 2nd time he ran at Oaklawn, ran much better the 2nd time he ran at Belmont, and ran much better the 2nd time he ran at Monmouth.

So, if his two goals for this year were a Dubai World Cup win in the first half of the season and a Breeders Cup Classic repeat in the 2nd half of the season...the priority would be to give him a prep over each track prior to the big race.

This is why I expect Curlin to use the Goodwood as his final prep for the Breeders Cup Classic.

I've said this too... but, what about before that? Does he go off just one start? Maybe. Otherwise, he's going to have to buck the two-starts over track trend.

You mean what does he do or where does he go between now and the Goodwood if that is his plan?

If that's what you're asking, I don't really know....that would be up to the connections and all...and I'm sure how the horse is doing physically and how well he's training will play a role in where he goes next.

from what i read earlier, he heads to keeneland from the desert (via belmont)to train over the poly there-before they (asmussen and assistant, exercise rider) put their collective heads together and figure out a plan for the second half of the season as they called it.
so, do they wish to train on poly to see how he does on it, or because some think it's kinder to a horse? but his having been in the fairgrounds since the bc would tell me that it's the former.