Curlin.............Going to California
DiscreetCat
Moderator
Good grief. I think Curlin has become horseracing's version of Brett Favre or Roger Clemens. I suspect that owner Jess Jackson is going to milk this thing for all the publicity it's worth, to the point where we might not get an official confirmation until pre-entries are taken.
I mean, who does he think he's kidding? Curlin heads cross-country to Santa Anita immediately after his win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but he's "just going there to train". Gimme a break. If they were sooooo worried about the surface he's running on, then they probably should've scratched from the Jockey Club Gold Cup after the racetrack turned into a sea of mud. And regarding the uncertainty of the synthetic surface, keep in mind that Curlin has trained over the Keeneland polytrack on numerous occasions. I believe he's been pointed at the Classic since Day One, or at least since they decided to keep him in training after his win in the Dubai World Cup early this year.
Anyway, here's the latest article on the situation, of which i'm sure there will be many more....
from Bloodhorse:
It didnt take majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen long to make plans for Curlin, winner of the Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The colt departed Belmont Park Sunday morning and is on way to Santa Anita and a possible confrontation with Big Brown in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
He is scheduled to arrive early this afternoon, said Michael J. Harlow, Santa Anita's director of racing, the morning of Sept. 28.
Following the Gold Cup, Jackson said. First well have to get him adjusted. But it is up to him whether he likes the track and the surface. So, those are concerns we still have. But well consider it now that were past this hurdle. Thats the next prospect for us and well give it every bit of attention. I am being very cautious and doing my due diligence first.
Asmussen, speaking by phone emphasized that they are not committing Curlin to the BC Classic at this point.
He came out of the (Gold Cup) great. What we decide will only matter according to how he is on that race track. Were going to California to work him, and nothing past that, he said.
I mean, who does he think he's kidding? Curlin heads cross-country to Santa Anita immediately after his win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but he's "just going there to train". Gimme a break. If they were sooooo worried about the surface he's running on, then they probably should've scratched from the Jockey Club Gold Cup after the racetrack turned into a sea of mud. And regarding the uncertainty of the synthetic surface, keep in mind that Curlin has trained over the Keeneland polytrack on numerous occasions. I believe he's been pointed at the Classic since Day One, or at least since they decided to keep him in training after his win in the Dubai World Cup early this year.
Anyway, here's the latest article on the situation, of which i'm sure there will be many more....
from Bloodhorse:
It didnt take majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen long to make plans for Curlin, winner of the Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The colt departed Belmont Park Sunday morning and is on way to Santa Anita and a possible confrontation with Big Brown in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
He is scheduled to arrive early this afternoon, said Michael J. Harlow, Santa Anita's director of racing, the morning of Sept. 28.
Following the Gold Cup, Jackson said. First well have to get him adjusted. But it is up to him whether he likes the track and the surface. So, those are concerns we still have. But well consider it now that were past this hurdle. Thats the next prospect for us and well give it every bit of attention. I am being very cautious and doing my due diligence first.
Asmussen, speaking by phone emphasized that they are not committing Curlin to the BC Classic at this point.
He came out of the (Gold Cup) great. What we decide will only matter according to how he is on that race track. Were going to California to work him, and nothing past that, he said.
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