Curlin is ready for a run at the record.
The reigning Horse of the Year put in his final workout before attempting to become the first American racehorse to break the $10 million mark in Saturdays $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Curlin covered a half mile in an easy 51.85 seconds Monday over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course, a worked called perfect by Scott Blasi, the assistant to Curlin trainer Steve Asmussen.

It was his normal work before he runs, Blasi said. He got over the ground really well and we are all excited about Saturday.

The 4-year-old Curlin enters the 1-mile Gold Cup with earnings of $9,796,800. Two-time Horse of the Year Cigar has the record of $9,999,815, which has stood for 12 years. The winners purse of $450,000 on Saturday would vault Curlin past Cigar with total earnings of $10,246,800.

Expected to challenge Curlin as he goes for a second straight win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup are Travers runner-up Mambo in Seattle, Suburban winner Frost Giant, Timber Reserve, Angliana, either A. P. Arrow or Ravel (both trained by Todd Pletcher) and Wanderin Boy, third to Curlin in the Woodward on Aug. 30.

Mambo in Seattle could be a formidable opponent. Beaten a nose by Colonel John in the Travers, the 3-year-old colt receives a four-pound weight allowance from the older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Mambo in Seattle worked a half-mile in 49.64 at Belmont on Monday.

With Robby Albarado committed to ride Curlin, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will be aboard Mambo in Seattle.

We understand what a tall order it is to go against a champion like Curlin, Mambo in Seattle trainer Neil Howard said. And it is always a big step up when a 3-year-old goes up against older horses.

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Horse Racing news