Curlin works out
 

Didn't see this up yet, but there is still hope we will see him as a 4 year old. Breezed 4f in 53.40 on a fast Fairgrounds track.

I sure hope he comes back, thanks for posting that workout.

53 and change.

Yeah he's getting ready...

Asmussen never asks his horses for a lot in the morning and he said afterwards it was just what he was looking for. He'll work him again Saturday and ask him to go a little quicker.

NT

Hopefully for Dubai.

You talked to him?

http://www.drf.com/news/article/91413.html

At least he's back on the track and we have a glimmer of hope of him running. We can hope so I suppose.

NT

Oh. Well that's a bummer. I was hoping you had a racing dispatch exclusive interview brewin.

No, the Dispatch powers would never let me talk on the phone with anyone. That would force them to let me out of my corner where I just sit and handicap races.

Hope you enjoyed the site if you visited!

NT

Does anyone know what race (before Dubai) he may contest? Possibly The Donn???

UAE press release from the 3rd.....


Trainer hopes Curlin will race in Dubai World Cup

Curlin looks set to participate in the Dubai World Cup - providing he stays in training

Although a decision has yet to be made about whether probable American Horse of the Year Curlin will race again in 2008 or be retired to stud, trainer Steve Asmussen is proceeding with the idea that the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) is the best major target for the colt.

Asmussen said Wednesday that Curlin is “perfect” while in light training at the Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans. The four-year-old son of Smart Strike has been galloping and is tentatively set to work a half-mile on Sunday, his first timed workout since he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1) on October 27.

Curlin probably will be nominated to both the Donn Handicap (Gr.1) on February 2 at Gulfstream Park and the Mineshaft Handicap (Gr.3) on February 9 at the Fair Grounds, with either serving as a possible Dubai World Cup prep, Asmussen said.

“It’ll just be how quickly he comes around and when you want to run him,” added Asmussen, who led all North American trainers in 2007 with 488 wins.

However, Asmussen cautioned that “there is no way to know” if the colt will run in any race, much less the Dubai World Cup, until his owners make up their minds about his future.

Vintner Jess Jackson currently owns 80% of Curlin after acquiring the interests of partners George Bolton and Padua Stables. The Midnight Cry Stable, which bought Curlin as a yearling for $57,000 and raced him to his first victory, owns the remaining interest even while principals Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr., both lawyers, have been imprisoned in Kentucky in connection with a fraud case.

If Curlin does race and achieves success in major events, he could find inaugural Dubai World Cup winner Cigar’s North American career earnings record of US$9,999,815 within his stride.

“All he would have to do is duplicate what he did last year and he would be there,” Asmussen said of the revered record established more than a decade ago.

While winning three Grade 1 events in 2007, the only season he has raced, Curlin earned $5,102,800 in compiling a record of six wins, one second and two thirds in nine starts.

Thanks My Miss Storm Cat

curlin works out
 

:D My Miss Storm Cat has it right! DUBAI! And a reminder the Dubai International Racing Carnival starts January 17th! :)

He'll race if Jackson can get last 20%. I believe its ownership is in question because of the lawsuit. Plaintiff's lawyer trying to get him and liquidate...?

This is really good news for racing. I just assumed he was headed to the breeding shed after the end of his season. I would think it would be tough to double back at this point and put together a quality book of mares, so they might as well run him.

Can someone explain to me why the person holding 80% ownership doesn't get to make the decisions? Does Jackson really need the other 20%. Can't he just put it to a "vote"?

--Dunbar

i understand why horses are taken to dubai for the money but i don't see that it's good for racing in the US. take Curlin half way around the world he does well and he won't run in the US again until june? IF he runs again at all.
if he runs the full 08 season i'll be shocked.

i think that may be the most likely cause for Curlin to actually run this year. (or at least part of the year)

You're right dd. As soon as he has the tiniest of setbacks, it'll be off to the farm.

if that was the case, you'd think they would have sent him to the farm already. jackson is going thru all this to run the horse, not keep him in a stall.
now, if he starts losing....

Once he has missed breeding season there is no incentive to send him to the farm unless he develops a real injury or is totally off form. I'd definitely agree that the chance of him staying sound all year may be slim but they won't be sidelining him just for the hell of it.

i think the most likely cause is that jackson is an old man, and would like to see the best horse he's ever had run just for him, and hopefully show what jackson thinks--that he owns a great horse.
then there's the fact that most stud farms probably didn't make a play, as there was a lot more to the curlin deal than just putting together a syndication. who wants to get sucked into a legal situation that may take years to resolve?

there MIGHT just be the best answer. it would be great to see him for the whole year. see if he gets better after maturing into that big, powerful body. IF he gets better, just think what a 4y/o monster we could see?

i just hope they come up with a plan, and soon. no sense in keeping the fire lit under that horse if they aren't going to run him.

if and when curlin runs, i'd say no to dubai.

map out a schedule, give a nod to the best and brightest races here. run a classic campaign-what a boost that would be to the sport.

and hey, maybe a rematch between curlin and rags? ah, one can dream.....

Rags would be smoked at anything less than 12 furlongs.

I have to believe that he is running because legally it is unlikely that the horse can be sold to stud without resolving the 20% ownership. I doubt highly that that any transfer of that portion can be done without court intervention which can take forever. In the end it is great news for fans as we will most likely get to see Curlin run a 4 year old season.