Breeders Cup Chat - All Comments

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

jshandler — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:06:43 GMT

Megan: I addressed this in the blog article.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Megan. — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:41:14 GMT

Does anyone know if they're going to race Indian Blessing again or retire her?

She's sure one to keep an eye on for sprinters!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

tiznowfan09 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:26:46 GMT

I can firmly attest that Midnight Lute is happily esconsced in his stall at the Hill'n'Dale Stallion barn. I delivered him there about a week or two after the Cup. Regarding his size, he is of spectacular proportion, especially for a sprinter.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Householder — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:06:34 GMT

Track lore has it that Midnight Lute is about the same size as Zenyatta. The winter meet at Santa Anita will be great. Go Between, A-Maximus, Well Armed, Zenyatta, Midnight Lute, Baby Zenyatta. I can't wait. With all of Baffert's moaning about artificial surfaces I find it ironic that Midnight Lute tore Santa Anita up. I hope he lets him stay for the winter.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Nancy D — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:30:35 GMT

In today's economy of slumping attendance at the tracks Curlin has not been given his dues for what he did for this past years Breeders Cup. His announced entry created fresh attention and interest in a sport which has been in decline. For everyone who has denounced his accomplishments, we should remember how his name alone revived and sparked new interest in the sport. Big Brown and Zenyetta alone would never have done this. His trainers always commented on his professionalism and if you watched him in his races when the crowd was cheering and applauding, you would see what they meant by this. He always stood proud and tall.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Silver Charm — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:31:00 GMT

its a sad to see Curlin retired after an anticlimactic finale to an astonishing career. but thankfully hes sound and healthy. I look forward to next years crop including Stardom Bound, Midshipman, and especially Nicanor. (whenever M.Matz feels hes ready for his first run) Plus lets also be positive that we'll see a phenomenon in Zenyatta return to the track and horses like Mambo in Seattle & Col. John who are continuing to improve... who wouldnt want to see a rematch between those two? though Curlin has left the track, as all great horses do eventually, i think we'll be speaking his name for a long time to come

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

tiznowfan09 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:12:21 GMT

Janesville Liz: The way I see it, Jackson wants to own Curlin 100% if not to have the entire horse without anyone elses input or...ahem..legal drama...but to aid in his syndicating as a stallion should he choose that route. Now while Jackson is a billionaire, no one wants to spend money willy nilly and so by, shall we say, encouraging his appraiser under the table, a lesser value is assigned to Curlin, hence a lesser pricetag for the tied up 20%. If that is the case I do find it wildly amusing that he is now "cheating"(I'm hesitant to say cheating but screwing seemed a bit rude for the forum lol) the same guys that "Cheated" the people in the Phen-Phen case out of so much money. So on one hand I hate the thought, but on the other, he is gutting a couple lawyers out of money they don't need or deserve so kudos there.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

DOC — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:37:52 GMT

DON'T FORGET ABOUT TIAGO! HE'S A PART OF THAT STELLAR 2007 CLASS AND HE BANGED HEADS WITH THE BEST OF THEM. HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND HE DID FINISH A FASTER THAN U THINK CLOSING THIRD IN THE BELMONT. AND WHEN U THINK ABOUT THE FACT HE CAME IN THIRD IN THIS YEAR'S CLASSIC BEHIND A GR-1 WINNER HE LOOKS BETTER AND BETTER. I ONLY HOPE THAT THE SHIRREFFS WILL RACE HIM ON REAL DIRT THIS YEAR WHERE HE'S A BIT BETTER!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

jshandler — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:30:45 GMT

Will W: Well said. I was thinking the same thing about Asmussen's reasons for not running Curlin in the Clark. In fact, I was the one who interviewed him and wrote the story. It was pretty laughable if you ask me. Since when is $400,000 chump change? My opinion, he knows Curlin would have been beaten in the Clark and they want to go out on top in a Big Brown type stakes created race.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

DONNA — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:15:05 GMT

I think it's rather amusing that Sheikh Mohammed has to buy himself a Kentucky Derby winner. With all the horses they've bought and bred already what's wrong with the horses over their?

Long live the Funny Cides and Sacatoga Stables, the claimers that make it big like Lava Man. Yes though they are few and far between big bucks were'nt spent for instant success by these people. May the little hard working people and horses keep winning our Derby!!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Will W — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:57:05 GMT

Now we know why Curlin isn't running in the Clark. Two reasons given by Asmussen: First, CD cut the purse a $100,000 and its beneath his interests' dignity to put him in for such a "cheap" purse. Give me a break ! Secondly, the weather's turning bad. Now I grew up in Louisville and the temperatures might range from the 30's to the 50s in late November. This is too taxing on this exceptionally durable and fit race horse ? He withstood the heat of the shimmering sands of Dubai and Santa Anita as calm and composed as any horse I've ever seen. Did he even break a sweat in the paddock as he stood there to be saddled with unusual composure ? He handled the slop of Monmouth and Belmont as if track and weather conditions had absolutely no effect on him. In fact, he seemed to relish them. So now he can't handle a little fall weather in Louisville ??? Better question is what can't Curlin handle ? Curlin has the makings of an iron horse, but, hey, will never get to see him round into one for he has to go off to the breeding stall to serve the needs of "industry" and to heck with all his racing fans that feel like they were kicked in the gut by his premature retirement.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

da3hoss — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:50:05 GMT

I am going to miss that big red horse, what a physical being he is.

He may not be in the same breath as "da mostest hoss" or "the people's horse" but he sure was an "honest, tryin' horse"...that's what I'll remmeber..he tried, no matter what they asked of him.

He always showed up the best he could and he never, ever backed down or quit.

It took the world's #4 and #2 horses on a surface that played to their style, to take down the #1 horse...no horse need hang his head for that, especially Curlin.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

ace — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:24:20 GMT

The fillies/mare are far more exciting than the boys these days. Older stars (Zenyatta), young stars (Stardom Bound) and international stars (Goldikova), not to mention Indian Blessing, Music Note, Cocoa Beach.

If there was a battles of the sexes at this years Breeders Cup, the ladies could sweep!

The California contigent (Tiago, Albertus Maximus, Well Armed, Go Between, Surf Cat) will be strong.

Monterey Jazz is the horse that excites me the most ,if he can rebound. He was a fantastic front runner. He and Commentator would make for a great Met Mile.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Scarletandgraypimpernel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:18:55 GMT

I really thought that Zenyatta should try for Dubai. I really can't think of anyone of whom she should really be afraid. Look at the top 3YO and up who will have left the scene. Unless there is some DeKock horse she would seem to loom very large.

Was the Classic Curlin’s last race? What is there to look forward to in ‘09 now? — Shining City

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:08:39 GMT

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