Breeders Cup
Breeders’ Cup Sires: Curlin
By Jarrod Horak
This is my first article in my five-part Breeders’ Cup sires series. I will start my series with 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Curlin.
Race Record
Curlin (Smart Strike – Sherriff’s Deputy, by Deputy Minister) started 16 times with 11 wins, two runner-up finishes, and a pair of show finishes. He captured ten graded stakes and banked more than $10.5 million. As a sophomore in 2007, his biggest victories occurred in the Grade 1 Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. In 2008, he won the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He was named Horse of the Year twice, 3-year-old champ in 2007, and champion older male in 2008.
Breeders’ Cup
Curlin was 4-1 in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park. Hard Spun set the pace and Curlin was patiently handled under Robby Albarado. Steve Asmussen’s colt closed powerfully, rolled past Hard Spun, and secured the win by 4 1/2 lengths over the sloppy, sealed main track.
He also competed in the 2008 BC Classic on the all-weather track at Santa Anita Park, and he was less than even money. He rallied from off the pace and hit the front under Robby Albarado, but he lost his momentum late and Raven’s Pass, Henrythenavigator, and Tiago all went on by, and Steve Asmussen’s colt ended up a disappointing fourth.
Stakes Winners
Curlin has sired many graded stakes winners including Grade 1 Preakness hero Exaggerator, Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, Travers winner Keen Ice, and multiple Grade 1 winners Clairiere and Nest. He currently stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Paris, Kentucky, and his stud fee is $250,000.
Breeders’ Cup Sires: Curlin
Curlin is one of the top Breeders’ Cup sires. He is responsible for Breeders’ Cup winners Good Magic (2017 BC Juvenile), Vino Rosso (2019 BC Classic), Cody’s Wish (2022 Dirt Mile), Elite Power (2022 Sprint), and Malathaat (2022 Distaff).
Breeders’ Cup 2023 Runners
Curlin should be well-represented in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup. He has 2022 Breeders’ Cup winners Cody’s Wish (Dirt Mile) and Elite Power (Sprint) going for repeat wins, and he has top BC Distaff contender Idiomatic and BC Classic hopeful Bright Future.
Check out these other Breeders’ Cup 2023 articles:
Breeders’ Cup Classic 2023 Angles
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint 2023 Angles
Breeders’ Cup Sprint 2023 Angles