That Curlin vs. Big Brown matchup that horse racing fans and bettors were eagerly anticipating? Now it's unlikely to happen.
Curlin, the reigning horse of the year and the defending Breeders' Cup Classic winner is not expected to participate in the 2008 Classic on Oct. 25. After the 4-year-old easily won the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs, trainer Steve Asmussen said a turf campaign is in Curlin's future.
"We first must decide how fit he is and how he came out of the race," principal owner Jess Jackson said. "Then he'll tell us when he's ready and we'll decide where we'll go after that."
Curlin is being considered for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe turf race in France in October. Before that, he is being aimed toward a turf race July 12 or 13. The possibilities during that weekend are the $500,000 Man O'War at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park and the $200,000 Arlington Handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Arlington Park in Illinois.Asmussen said he's been discussing running the Arc with Jackson since Curlin won the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall. The horse has won nine of 12 starts and third on the all-time North American earnings list.
If all goes according to plan, Curlin could run the Arlington Million on Aug. 9, followed by a trip for Longchamp in France for a prep race, followed by the Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5.
The plans could change if Asmussen determines Curlin doesn't care for turf, but the trainer has made it clear he's not a fan of synthetic main tracks.
The Breeders' Cup Classic is scheduled for Oct. 25 at Santa Anita, which now features a synthetic track surface.
Big Brown's owners have said their horse would likely run twice more in his career, at the Travers Stakes and then the Classic.
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