Curlin
 

Am I alone in thinking these guys are crazy to run Curlin back in the Preakness? I understand with the $$$ paid to purchase him privately they wanted to take a shot in the Derby, and I also understand he is a talented horse, BUT he made his first start in February, and therefore will be making 5 starts in 15 weeks. If I owned this horse I would much rather freshen him a little and point for a Summer, Fall campaign, as I would rather try to win the Travers than the Preakness. Just seems if he doesn't finish "on his feet" next weekend he could be gone for quite some time.:confused:

If he came out of the Derby well, they would be foolish to not run him in the Preakness.

WHY?

Because he is one of only three horses in the race with a serious chance of winning...and while soundly beaten by the top two last time out, he had a much tougher trip than the winner--and the 2nd place finisher is once again likely to get caught in a pace battle.

There was nothing glaringly bad that happened to Curlin during the running of that race...

However, he broke far more flat footed than usual, he got squeezed back by Storm in May during the run into the first turn...he took a lot dirt in his face for the first time....he had sneaky trouble at the 3/8ths pole when he appeared to have a lot of run...but a few horses were stopping in front of him, and he simply had no place to go. And while he did pass horses once finally in the clear...it's simply unrealistic to expect a horse to go from a wire-to-wire debuting winner sprinting...to win the Kentucky Derby closing from 14th...in less than 100 days time

He gained something from that race, and with a clean break, he can be dangerous using his preferred stalking tactics.

Curlin is the likely winner of The Preakness in my opinion.

I must agree that barring injury, they would be foolish not to run him. They bought him to race, and he very likely will win a Triple Crown race in the Preakness which will help recoup their purchase price and enhance his value.

On what grounds would you not run him?

Do you think 5 races in 15 weeks is really too much?

Let me add that in three of his four starts he essentially had a workout.

This horse basically has had one start. The Kentucky Derby

Think of the stud value for beating Street Sense.

Curlin: 2007 Preakness champion.
Defeated BCJ and KD champion Street Sense
$100,000 fee

exactly

FTFY

hahaha

so, you're expecting stonewall to stand him??

Its asking a lot for him to run another big race being 5 races in 15 weeks.

i don't think curlins early races took much out of him. 5 lifetime starts by mid-may--no way that can be too much.

i like his chances in the preakness. it looked to me that the only running he did in the derby was in the stretch so he's probly ready to go for the preakness. also, should be a fair price behind street and spun.

i won't be pulling for curlin--different trainer, well then i would..

maybe hard spun will carry it all the way this time.

Only problem is he needs to win ....Going take a major effort to beat the two horses that kicked his ass in the derby

I never understood why send the 2nd and 3rd place KD finishers to the Preak.

They did their jobs in the Derby. It's the other horses that did not fire that day that should be pointed and have something to prove.

Your assumption makes no sense--a horse that ran poorly should be immediately run back in a Grade I race, on two weeks rest? No one would buy that logic in any month but May (and I wouldn't buy it then). Seems like time to regroup for Saratoga, Del Mar and the fall to me.

Also, I don't think all the other horses "failed to fire"--some are just not good enough, period, while others are not suited to that distance.

If a horse ran badly but had a legitimate excuse (i.e. boxed in for good chunk of the race), then I have no problem seeing them run back. Otherwise, drop back and punt.

I think Curlin has a great shot at beating Street Sense here...

Perhaps it's too much (and too soon), but if he came out of the Derby fine, why not take the chance?