Curlin's Classic Run Cements Legacy
Preakness Champ Chases Down Hard Spun to Win

By John Scheinman
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, October 28, 2007; D03

OCEANPORT, N.J., Oct. 27 -- They came together to confront each other one last time, the brilliant class of 3-year-old racehorses that not only dominated during the rigors of the Triple Crown classics but also survived for a definitive showdown Saturday in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

With a barreling attack that left Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense futilely sputtering in his wake, the magnificent, muscled chestnut colt Curlin ran down the freewheeling leader Hard Spun and galloped to a 4 1/2 -length victory before a crowd of 41,781 at Monmouth Park.

After a spectacular year in which the three best dirt horses in the country swapped victories, the precocious Curlin, in just his ninth career start, made what likely will be considered a definitive statement. He answered the question of who is best by splashing over the sloppy but unbiased track in a scorching 2 minutes .59 of a second for the 1 1/4 -mile race, just a fifth of a second off the course record set by Carry Back in 1962.

George Washington, the lone European runner in the race, broke down in the stretch, shattering his right front leg, and was euthanized on the track.

The victory by Curlin, who also won the Preakness Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Arkansas Derby this year, likely secured Horse of the Year honors and the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old champion.

Hard Spun, also bidding for Horse of the Year honors, finished second, as he did in the Kentucky Derby behind Street Sense. Long shot Awesome Gem passed the tiring Derby winner for third.

"When you look at the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont . . . it's consistently the same three horses there," said Satish Sanan, one of the many co-owners of Curlin, two of whom are in jail on fraud charges. "If you put the same three in a match race, it would be the same way again."

From the beginning of his career, Curlin had an air of brilliance. He broke his maiden in February at Gulfstream Park by 12 3/4 lengths, and trainer Steve Asmussen audaciously had him in the Kentucky Derby just three races later, an undefeated rising star woefully light on experience and seasoning.

Curlin rallied for third that day behind Street Sense and Hard Spun, despite a troubled journey, and then came back to win the Preakness in a thrilling victory over Street Sense. After losing the Belmont Stakes by a head to the filly Rags to Riches, Curlin was badly beaten by Any Given Saturday in the Haskell Invitational in August at Monmouth and some of the luster looked to have worn off.

Asmussen, however, had the Breeders' Cup Classic in his sights from that moment on.

"We trained after the Haskell with this in mind," Asmussen said. "Everything culminated today. The horse has spoiled us with his consistency. Off his maiden race he won a Grade III. You look to compare him with something else, and there's nothing to compare him to."

The race marked the end of the trail for Street Sense, Hard Spun and Any Given Saturday, who finished sixth, all purchased and retired to stud duty by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai's ruler. Curlin's future has not been decided.

"There's an inner quarrel with me," said co-owner Jess Jackson. "Here's a horse that can change the direction of breeding in the world -- the speed, the size, the power -- he's an exceptional horse. . . . On the other hand, I'm a racing fan; I'm a handicapper, and I'd like to see him come back."

Jockey Robby Albarado, who rode Curlin for his first Breeders' Cup victory, also wanted more action. "My vote is to run him next year," he said.

It would be hard to imagine Curlin improving on his Classic performance, but Jackson pointed out that sons of the stallion Smart Strike often improve with age.

The race unfolded as expected, with Hard Spun emerging from a tight bunch to take the lead going into the first turn with the older horse, Lawyer Ron, chasing on his inside.

Albarado appeared content to gallop Curlin along outside of Street Sense on the backstretch eight lengths back as the leaders cut through the first six furlongs in 1:10.67. A mile into the race, Lawyer Ron, who lost a photo finish to Curlin last month in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, began to drop back. Hard Spun, under Maryland-based rider Mario Pino, took control and opened a two-length lead.

Against any other horses, Hard Spun likely would have run right into the winner's circle, but Pino had seen this scenario before in the Derby.

"When we shook off Lawyer Ron, I said, 'Great, we still have a chance.' Then Curlin powered on by, but my horse fought to the very end. It was an awesome race."

When Curlin reached Hard Spun, the leader briefly resisted but Curlin made a dramatic surge to pull away. Jockey Calvin Borel could only watch from the back of Street Sense as the great three-way rivalry came to an end.

"When I got to the quarter-pole, I really thought it was going to come down to me and him, but we couldn't go with him," Borel said of Curlin. "Curlin is the genuine article."

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