Curlin breezed an easy half-mile in 51.85 seconds over a fast Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course on Monday morning, his final work in advance of Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

“Really nice and smooth,” said assistant trainer Scott Blasi following the work. “It was exactly what we were looking for.”

Working by himself with regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas in the irons, Curlin went in fractions of :13 and :25.70 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:06.15.

Along with stablemate J Be K, Curlin will board a van and leave Saratoga this morning at 10 am, and is expected to arrive at Belmont Park around 1:30 pm.

“We are excited about taking him back down there,” commented Blasi on returning to Belmont, adding, “The configuration really suits him with the wide turns.”

A victory in the Gold Cup would not only make Curlin the first back-to-back winner since Skip Away, it would also establish the son of Smart Strike as the first American Thoroughbred to eclipse $10 million in career earnings.

Among those expected to challenge Curlin include Travers runner-up Mambo in Seattle, Frost Giant, Wanderin Boy, Timber Reserve, Angliana, and the Todd Pletcher trained duo of A. P. Arrow and Ravel.

On Monday morning, Pletcher indicated that both are possible, although nothing has been confirmed.

“It’s foolish to think you are going to beat him,” Pletcher said in reference to facing Curlin, “although we have had success against him in the past.”

To this point, Rags to Riches edged Curlin in a dramatic Belmont Stakes, Any Given Saturday got the best of him in the Haskell, and Lawyer Ron pushed Curlin to the limit in the Gold Cup last fall.

Pletcher was quick to put everything back in perspective, however. “Of course, we’re not bringing a Rags to Riches, Lawyer Ron or Any Given Saturday over there, so we would need to improve and have Curlin come back to us.”

With the Breeders’ Cup a little more than one month away, Pletcher outlined his potential runners: Munnings (Juvenile); Silent Valor (Juvenile); Bittel Road (Juvenile Turf); Unbridled Belle (Ladies’ Classic); Wait a While (Filly & Mare Turf); Red Giant (Turf Mile or Turf); Fairbanks (Marathon).

Pletcher said either Ravel or A. P. Arrow could earn Breeders’ Cup Classic berths with a strong showing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, although noted that “A. P. Arrow hasn’t really shown an affinity for synthetic surfaces in the past.”

Between this weekend and next, the rank within several divisons will gain clarity in advance of the Breeders’ Cup — although what any of it means given the dirt-to-synthetic transition remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, it will be exciting to see:

1) How Elope and Zada Belle match up when facing the likes of Indian Blessing
2) Proud Spell back in action
3) If Commentator can put forth another big effort around two turns
4) Where does Mambo in Seattle match up versus older — which would also reflect upon the likes of Colonel John

“He worked awesome.”

This was the critique by assistant trainer Scott Blasi after reigning Horse of the Year Curlin turned in an effortless five furlong breeze in 1:01.80 on a breezy Monday morning over the Oklahoma Training Track in Saratoga Springs.

Heavy rains on Sunday left considerable moisture in the track, so Blasi decided to wait until after the renovation break to work Curlin.

“I told them what I wanted to do, and they made it happen,” Blasi said of the track maintenance staff, which was able to squeeze most of the moisture out and have the track harrowed by the time Curlin walked on at 7:46 am. “They get the star of the day.”

With regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard, Curlin worked along the inside of stablemate Hawaii Calls, who was kept to task by Shaun Bridgmohan to remain close.

Curlin finished the work a shade more than a neck in front of Hawaii Calls while covering the final quarter-mile in :24.

“He went beautiful,” said Rosas.” Nice and smooth, and he galloped out decent.”

Curlin will remain in Saratoga for a final work next Monday before shipping to Belmont Park for the Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup, a race he won last year.

It is safe to say this will be the toughest field Big Brown has ever faced.

Saturday’s Monmouth Stakes, with a purse of $500K assuming Big Brown breaks from the gate, boasts graded-stakes winners Shakis, Proudinsky, Drum Major and Silver Tree amongst the field of 11. When compared to the Haskell, where he was all-out to defeat Coal Play, he will need to step up his game to reward the expected big crowd at Monmouth Park.

Shakis enters off a scintillating score in the Bernard Baruch — on grass at this distance — and Proudinsky could be sitting on a huge effort for Frankel. It would be no surprise if either of these established turf runners slay the favorite, and will do so at generous odds.

Fresh off his popular victory in the Woodward Stakes, Curlin now sets his sights on defense of his Jockey Club Gold Cup crown. To that end, the reigning Horse of the Year logged an easy half-mile breeze in 51.34 seconds on a gorgeous Monday morning over the Oklahoma Training Track in Saratoga Springs.

“Real smooth” was how assistant trainer Scott Blasi categorized the work (more…)

RACE 1
WIN – Kick off the closing day card on the turf. BARTLETTS ran entirely too well to lose last out, forcing the issue into a quick pace over boggy going, and after winning that early battle, was just nailed in the last jump. Cuts back a sixteenth.
PLACE – COUNTERSPY found traffic right out of the gate, but did manage to improve his position slightly after that last out. Drops in for a tag for The Chief.
SHOW – ALL THE WAY HOME ran a career best in his only other time on grass, so a big effort is possible at big odds. Duggan has enjoyed a wonderful meet.

RACE 2
WIN – Would use several in multi-race plays, but give top billing to TAXADAME, who debuts for Galluscio. Works are strong, she attracts Prado, and like the fact she was cross-entered in the Lady Fingers Stakes at the Flakes today.
PLACE – GEM FOR HOOK chased the promising Mother Russia throughout (more…)