Curlin wins the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Curlin wins the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup
September 27, 2008
Last year's winner and Horse of the Year Curlin attempted to rewrite the record books on Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) by breaking Cigar's all-time earnings record as well as breaking the $10 million plateau. As expected, Curlin was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the field of 8, exiting a win in the Woodward. In to challenge the champion included 4-1 second choice Mambo In Seattle, second by a nose in the Travers last out, and 7-1 Wanderin Boy, third to Curlin in the Woodward.
Rains all day Friday and overnight downgraded the track to sloppy.
Wanderin Boy set a slow pace of 24.67, 48.79, 1:13.08, and 1:36.70, with Merchant Marine stalking him a length behind the whole way. Regular jockey Robby Albarado kept Curlin out of trouble out wide in 5th down the bacstretch. Turning for home, Albarado asked Curlin to put in his bid for the lead, and the champion gradually gained on Wanderin Boy. The pair dueled from the 3/16 to the 1/8 pole, before Curlin finally pulled ahead late to win by just 3/4 length in a time of 2:01.93. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to Merchant Marine third.
Results chart
Curlin walks down Victory Lane
Majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables said, "I have been a lifetime supporter of Thoroughbred racing, and many of you don't know all of the things I've done. I feel that Curlin is the epitome of what my lifetime has contributed to the racing community and I hope to do more."
Curlin in winner's circle
Co-owner Barbara Banke said, "We'll see. He just won this race. We'll see how he comes out of this race. What's good for him is really the No. 1 factor. Is he healthy? Happy? Does he look fit? We'll wait for our wonderful team to discuss everything, and the course at Santa Anita is also a factor."
Jess Jackson added, "As to going out to Santa Anita (for the Breeders' Cup Classic), we'll probably load him up, but first we'll 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 we'll consider it now that we're past this hurdle. That's the next prospect for us and we'll give it every bit of attention. Let's put it this way: we haven't avoided (Big Brown). I don't fault (IEAH Stable) for the way they've handled Big Brown. But if he is truly going to the big race, we'll have to see whether Curlin likes the track. We're not trying to avoid him and there is always the Clark after that or the Japan Cup (Dirt). So, we have to take them one at a time. I don't want to risk a horse of Curlin's stature that we need in the gene pool. So, I am being very cautious and doing my due diligence first."
Curlin in the paddock
Ttrainer Steve Asmussen said, "I really liked the finish, that was my favorite part. He was away well, shuffled away a little bit down the backside. I could tell that Robby was very confident on him. He put himself in a perfect position. He looked fabulous through the stretch. I can't say how proud I am to be part of what's just happened."
Curlin heads out of the paddock
Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I don't want to go any further without thanking Jess (Jackson) and Barbara (Banke, Jackson's wife and co-owner of Curlin) for the opportunity to put that much money aside to let this horse develop and to let this happen. To make history - the all-time money-winning horse in North America -- it's very special. The job that (assistant) Scott Blasi and (exercise rider) Carmen Rosas have done with him on a day-to-day basis enabled him to maintain the consistency.
For him to be able to carry the weight of expectation, I'm very proud."
Curlin in the post parade
With the winner's purse of $450,000, Curlin's lifetime earnings blossomed to $10,246,800, breaking Cigar's 12-year-old record of $9,999,815. He is racing's first $10 million winner.
Jockey Robby Albarado celebrates
His jockey Robby Albarado said, "I'm sure it's not going to hit me for a while. It's really amazing. Steve instilled a lot of confidence in me before the raced. He just ran his race again and gave me that big Curlin move on the turn. It was tremendous, and very emotional. The bar is set against him every time, but he exceeds our expectations every time he runs. I didn't need (the whip). He was just skipping over the track."
Trainer Nick Zito said, "Curlin is in a different league. I take my hat off to him. He had to be that good today."
Jockey Alan Garcia added, "I got beat by the best horse, and he's an excellent horse. My horse ran his race; I'm happy. Nick Zito keeps doing the job, but Curlin was much the best today. It was a great day for racing."
Trainer H. Allen Jerkens said, "(Curlin) ran big. He loves the slop and he had everything his way. He is a great horse. My horse ran pretty good, but Curlin was the best."
Jockey Cornelio Velasquez added, "My horse ran a big one, but the one that won is the big deal."
September 27, 2008
Last year's winner and Horse of the Year Curlin attempted to rewrite the record books on Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) by breaking Cigar's all-time earnings record as well as breaking the $10 million plateau. As expected, Curlin was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the field of 8, exiting a win in the Woodward. In to challenge the champion included 4-1 second choice Mambo In Seattle, second by a nose in the Travers last out, and 7-1 Wanderin Boy, third to Curlin in the Woodward.
Rains all day Friday and overnight downgraded the track to sloppy.
Wanderin Boy set a slow pace of 24.67, 48.79, 1:13.08, and 1:36.70, with Merchant Marine stalking him a length behind the whole way. Regular jockey Robby Albarado kept Curlin out of trouble out wide in 5th down the bacstretch. Turning for home, Albarado asked Curlin to put in his bid for the lead, and the champion gradually gained on Wanderin Boy. The pair dueled from the 3/16 to the 1/8 pole, before Curlin finally pulled ahead late to win by just 3/4 length in a time of 2:01.93. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to Merchant Marine third.
Results chart
Curlin walks down Victory Lane
Majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables said, "I have been a lifetime supporter of Thoroughbred racing, and many of you don't know all of the things I've done. I feel that Curlin is the epitome of what my lifetime has contributed to the racing community and I hope to do more."
Curlin in winner's circle
Co-owner Barbara Banke said, "We'll see. He just won this race. We'll see how he comes out of this race. What's good for him is really the No. 1 factor. Is he healthy? Happy? Does he look fit? We'll wait for our wonderful team to discuss everything, and the course at Santa Anita is also a factor."
Jess Jackson added, "As to going out to Santa Anita (for the Breeders' Cup Classic), we'll probably load him up, but first we'll 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 we'll consider it now that we're past this hurdle. That's the next prospect for us and we'll give it every bit of attention. Let's put it this way: we haven't avoided (Big Brown). I don't fault (IEAH Stable) for the way they've handled Big Brown. But if he is truly going to the big race, we'll have to see whether Curlin likes the track. We're not trying to avoid him and there is always the Clark after that or the Japan Cup (Dirt). So, we have to take them one at a time. I don't want to risk a horse of Curlin's stature that we need in the gene pool. So, I am being very cautious and doing my due diligence first."
Curlin in the paddock
Ttrainer Steve Asmussen said, "I really liked the finish, that was my favorite part. He was away well, shuffled away a little bit down the backside. I could tell that Robby was very confident on him. He put himself in a perfect position. He looked fabulous through the stretch. I can't say how proud I am to be part of what's just happened."
Curlin heads out of the paddock
Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I don't want to go any further without thanking Jess (Jackson) and Barbara (Banke, Jackson's wife and co-owner of Curlin) for the opportunity to put that much money aside to let this horse develop and to let this happen. To make history - the all-time money-winning horse in North America -- it's very special. The job that (assistant) Scott Blasi and (exercise rider) Carmen Rosas have done with him on a day-to-day basis enabled him to maintain the consistency.
For him to be able to carry the weight of expectation, I'm very proud."
Curlin in the post parade
With the winner's purse of $450,000, Curlin's lifetime earnings blossomed to $10,246,800, breaking Cigar's 12-year-old record of $9,999,815. He is racing's first $10 million winner.
Jockey Robby Albarado celebrates
His jockey Robby Albarado said, "I'm sure it's not going to hit me for a while. It's really amazing. Steve instilled a lot of confidence in me before the raced. He just ran his race again and gave me that big Curlin move on the turn. It was tremendous, and very emotional. The bar is set against him every time, but he exceeds our expectations every time he runs. I didn't need (the whip). He was just skipping over the track."
Trainer Nick Zito said, "Curlin is in a different league. I take my hat off to him. He had to be that good today."
Jockey Alan Garcia added, "I got beat by the best horse, and he's an excellent horse. My horse ran his race; I'm happy. Nick Zito keeps doing the job, but Curlin was much the best today. It was a great day for racing."
Trainer H. Allen Jerkens said, "(Curlin) ran big. He loves the slop and he had everything his way. He is a great horse. My horse ran pretty good, but Curlin was the best."
Jockey Cornelio Velasquez added, "My horse ran a big one, but the one that won is the big deal."
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