While the unidentified of where and when Curlin will foundation next was slated to be cleared up by common possessor Jess Jackson. On a nationalized congress call Tuesday afternoon, there is diminutive clandestine about how the Horse of the Year is training.

In what has become a weekly normal every single Monday since his arrival here last month, Curlin came out on the Oklahoma training paw marks shortly before 6 a.m. to work under exercise qualification Carmen Rosas. With a big throng of railbirds looking on and fog shrouding much of the run down the backstretch, Curlin poverty-stricken off at the five-furlong pole and steady into a nice, easy pace. After going his introductory fourth mile in 25.76 and – in 38.06, he picked up the pace on cue upon entering the section and completed the five-furlong work in 1:02.69. He went his finishing quartier mile in 24.63 without any urging from Rosas before out six in 1:16.29 and seven-eighths in 1:30.54.

“He’s in a beautiful rhythm fair now,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “He’s in beautiful shape and ready for wherever Jess wants to run him.”

Jackson was on hand to watchdog Curlin work for the another upright week, and like Asmussen said he continue to wonder about his options.

Options for Curlin include Saratoga’s Sword Dancer Invitational on the prairie on Aug. 16, the Woodward over the main spoor here two weeks well along, or Del Mar’s Pacific Classic on Aug. 24. As expected, Curlin has been tendered an offer to the Sword Dancer.

“Watching a horse like Curlin is a profound emotion,” said Asmussen. “I absorb why population come out so first to see him train. If you like horses, you’ve got to like him.”

Student Council all of it, too

Asmussen also his multiple Grade 1 sure thing Student Council, who went an easy half-mile in 51.88 at Oklahoma on Monday. Student Council is coming off a additional-dwelling appearance behind Commentator in the Grade 1 Whitney.

“I rumored he ran tremendous the another day,” said Asmussen. “The conqueror ran a talented race to beat him.”

Asmussen said Student Council’s next boon would come either in defense of his claim in the Pacific Classic or here, six days following, in the Woodward.

“The Pacific Classic is probably the more charming to him since he won the race last year,” said Asmussen.

Indian Blessing to Gazelle?

Trainer Bob Baffert said he potency have gotten a pint-sized “caught up in the split second” when Indian Blessing could make her next onset in the 1 1/8-mile Gazelle next at Belmont Park, shortly after her dangerous victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Test Stakes.

“I was just throwing that out,” Baffert said Sunday morning while steady to revel in Indian Blessing’s performance the previous day. “I’m just going to love on her, brag on her, and wait until significant what approach to take next.”

Indian Blessing for a second time the skill to join her quick pace before demolishing her obstruction once cut unattached for home in the seven-furlong Test.

“She’s got a lot of fans now, and when you do a little like that at Saratoga in a race as prestigious as the Test, it makes it all the more impressive,” said Baffert. “She’s certainly labelled herself one of the top fillies around now. Sometimes 2-year-old champions on no account get to the next equal. She’s to that even now.”

Baffert was also pleased with the performance on Saturday of Indian Blessing’s baby brother Spaniard, who finished succeeding in a first unique mass dash.

“He ran a good race,” said Baffert. “He’s still babyish, still a teenager, and he hasn’t it all together yet. He’s a distinct charger than her, he’ll run than she will, but they all can’t be like Indian Blessing. Right now we call him Half Blessing because he’s half as good as she is.”

Matz high on Ready Set

Trainer Michael Matz was equally content by the performance Saturday of his up-and-coming 3-year-old Ready Set, who outfinished Web Gem to win Mountaineer Park’s $750,000 West Virginia Derby.

“We always said a lot of him as a young pony, but he just wasn’t conceptually aged plenty,” said Matz. “Little stuff distract him during a race. I pads to get him more fixated earlier this year but they only to make him more willful, so I took them off and now he restored during the leading part of his race. The mile and one-eighth fit him perfectly Saturday. Distance had better not once be a unruly since he’s by Touch Gold out of an Alleged mare. And I still meditate he’s got adequate of room to recover as he gets adult.”

Matz out the Travers as a in the cards option for Ready Set and instead plans to point him to the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 1.

“The Travers comes back too sudden,” Matz . “The Pennsylvania Derby gives us more time and is a lot closer to home.”

No one outshined Elope

Perhaps the most impressive performance at Saratoga this vacation came from the undefeated 4-year-old Elope, who drew off to an 11 3/4-length triumph in an entry-flat as a pancake pocket money race on Sunday. Elope, a of Gone West, a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for her next victory in as many . Elope, who is by Peter Blum, won her only previous outset for trainer Eddie Kenneally at Turfway Park last September.

“Her previous trainer told me she came back lame after her main race,” trainer Bruce Levine said on Monday. “Those issues are behind her now, and I reflect she could be a very specific filly. The way she won , I even feel she’ll go long – but I don’t know if I have abundant time to experiment. Right now I’d like to get one more start under her belt, a incentive one-time in September, and try to make the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.”

Dream Rush gets back to work

Multiple Grade 1 sensation Dream Rush worked four furlongs in 47.50 over the main trail Monday. It was her essential wind since a tiring third in Calder’s Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap on July 12.

“We did a on her after the Princess Rooney,” said Violette, referring to surgery that helps further a mount’s breathing by preventing her from displacing her during the running of a race.

“I had a view she just wasn’t getting all her air the way she got to the 70-yard pole and went into a jog in each of her last two starts. There’s no downside to doing the system, although we won’t know if it helps until she runs over again.”

Violette said Dream Rush could yield in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24

* Three Chimneys Farm has become the designation sponsor of the Gradeo1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds. The most central juvenile danger at Saratoga, the seven-furlong Hopeful will be run for the 104th time on Sept. 11.

Posted on August 5th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Horse Racing news