Affirmation by Dan Liebman

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

bianca — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:41:33 GMT

great comments above!!...i am a big fan of Curlin too, sad to say hes not racing anymore but hey, hes done his job already and made some big bucks. Give other horses a turn now huh? I wasn't shocked when he won the two HOY'S in a row, i knew he could do it! Thats my boy! Also very unexpected i noticed every time he raced was, he went out there with confidence i never saw in horse racing! Thats says it for itself, when you have confidence and positive thinking, you have a better chance of winning because you work harder. Now theres little Curlins coming, i am so excited to see curlin's baby horses run, and theres no doubt in mind that they will not be as good as Curlin was. Hes a true champ, and so will his babys.

-im proud of you, curlin!

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

CURLINLOVER — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:01:00 GMT

I doubt you love him as much as I do, Jamie! :-)

CURLIN is my dream horse and always will be after doing so much for me personally in a difficult year. And what a feat for him to get two HOY's in a row! Wow! He truly deserves it. He's OUR mighty, beautiful, magnificent CURLIN. I feel so lucky to have seen him twice in person and gotten great pictures og him. He's like a golden, coppery red marvel. I just managed to get a car that color! :-) And the licence plate? Well, "CURLIN", of course! And then, there's my Bengal cat "Curlin" as well! I'm not CURLIN obsessed or anything!

Thank you, Big boy - my beautiful CURLIN,for all you gave me - one way of the other!

Have fun and stay healthy!

GO CURLIN!!!!!!!

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Jamie — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:36:13 GMT

I didn't realize Curlin was only the second horse to receive the HOTY Eclipse at age 3 and 4.

And I didn't think he could impress me any further. God, I love that horse.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lyla — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:31:56 GMT

As someone who is thrilled!!!! that Curlin got HOY, some of the talk about Zenyatta I find disturbing. Her owners were rightly reluctant to put her in races with the boys after Eight Belles death. And, if the filly and mare races were given the credit they truly are due, with purses that matched the boys, there would be a lot more recognition given to them for their accomplishments. I do not think that a filly has to beat the boys to win HOY, nor do I think they should have to. There are plenty of tough venues to prove themselves and ore often than not, their times and distances are equal to those of the colts. Fillies and mares have become a huge part of racing...most performing equally, and often better than the males. When the sport starts acknowledging how much the fillies and mares really bring to it, I hope to see the purses increase appropriately and the respect for them to adjust equally appropriately. There are subtle things that take away from the overall impression of the fillies and mares. One change I’d like to see is how the schedule is set for the Breeders Cup. Put the juveniles on Friday with fewer viewers, and run the 3+ year old males and females on the Saturday card so they get equal attention. There are many other things we can do to elevate the deserved respect for the filly and mare, but it’s this overall attitude that they can’t do as good as the boys, and thus are less, that bothers me. It seems so archaic. I was stunned when the Shah?? who owns Goldikova stood up in the winners circle at the BC and could only show regret that she is a filly…not a colt. Goldikova’s race was the one race that literally dropped my jaw, and I would have thought everyone involved with her would have been thrilled. I hope the day comes when it’s not unusual at all for the boys and girls to race together, but until then, I hope we don’t continue to wear blinders as to what they really bring and what they are actually accomplishing.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Brian A. — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:21:30 GMT

Go Curlin!! I'm so happy that he is now in the elite company of the greats! But hey, why not try for three in-a-row now! (-:

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

John C — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:04:32 GMT

Smarie wrote- "And, this year his record would be very different if he had faced Street Sense, Hard Spun, Any Given Saturday, and Lawyer Ron-- rather than beating up on Wanderin Boy"

Are you kidding me? Didn't Curlin face all those horses last year and beat them all? Did you ever see him run in person? I certainly did and he was in a different class than all of those other very good horses you mention. What makes you think he could not beat them again a 4 when he did so at 3. Your comments make absolutely no sense. Curlin deserved to be HOTY, no question about it...

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Matthew W — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:49:52 GMT

Lawduck why would a Zenyatta win over Curlin in The Classic have rendered the Eclipse a "moot point"? She still would not have beaten him on dirt? It's as if the West Coast abruptly went over to synthetics and so now the East coast has abruptly decided it'e the minor leagues---minor league horses? You said yourself she might have been the bettor horse...didn't she run better than Curlin in The Cup? Whatever happened to handicapping them anyway! You said if she beats Curlin in Cup she wins! She ran lights out and he did not---right?

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lawduck07 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:09:36 GMT

I agree with the comments, too, that the coast biases will only get more pronounced now. I don't pretend to know all about synthetics tracks but to me they resemble grass more than dirt. I personally will be sad if we lose dirt racing. I'm not a fan of the turf race thing of slow pace and then mad rush at the end. I'm not even sure why but I like to see a horse hand on to the lead or maybe I just like the POSSIBILITY of different pace scenarios, which doesn't seem to happen as much with dirt. But this column isn't about synthetics. Oops.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lawduck07 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:05:05 GMT

I guess it will always come down to whether you believe HOY should come down to who the best horse was or which horse had the best year in its division. I believe the award should go to the former rather than the later. I'm not saying that Zenyatta wasn't the best horse. She might have beat the field in the Classic making this decision a moot point, I think she had a pretty good chance, too, given her proven form over the surface. But she didn't contest in it and instead beat up on her division, a restricted one at that. I also don't think Curlin had a "weak" year, the situation was nothing like Azeri's year as far as weakness in the 3-year old or older male divisions. I also have a big problem with giving HOY to 2-year olds. I remember when Arazi won the Juvenile and all the talk was of him for HOY. With the hindsight that would have looked awfully foolish now. I don't think Favorite Trick deserved it either over Skip Away.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Racing Fan1 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:33:46 GMT

By creating an all-synthetic circuit, the West Coast has guaranteed itself of minor league status for the foreseeable future.

If I owned a TC nominee I would have to get the horse out of California just to see if he can run on dirt.

If you guys thought the old East Coast bias was bad, this will be much worse!

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Matthew W — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:45:17 GMT

When a "fake track" horse goes East and loses--it's a LOSS.....When a "real track" horse goes West and loses, it's a MULLIGAN!

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Matthew W — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:33:29 GMT

A horse that passes nine horses in 1/8 of a mile does not look like a horse that didn't handle the track---Curlin looked like a winner around the far turn---then he faded down the stretch....Curlin was given a mulligan for The Classic, and judging from all the people saying Zenyatta's wins were on "fake tracks", I think West Coast horses are in for a tough time in future Eclipse votes....Let's say Ginger Punch BEAT Zenyatta at Oaklawn, then passed on The Cup...would a Zenyatta win in Ladies Classic have won The Eclipse?

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Abbie Knowles — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:55:10 GMT

Curlin was admirable at 4, as were his connections for giving him the chance to race as a mature horse. Not sure why so many top 3 year olds get packed off to stud so soon these days but hope the trend gets reversed!

Good luck to Zenyatta but Music Note and Cocoa Bech will not be pushovers if they improve as much during the Winter as i hope they will! She does need to tackle the colts too if she wants to be the best so her connections need to bear that in mind!

Rags to Riches proved it can be done when stumbling badly at the start of The Belmont and still beating Curlin in that home straight battle of attrition! She was something else!!!!

Lets see more older horses (as long as they are sound and enjoy racing!) please!!!!!! Look at Yeats in the UK. Still winning Ascot Gold Cups!!! There have been many great older horses in the UK and lets not forget Cigar's winning streak never even started until he was 4!!!!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Driftin Sage — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:11:33 GMT

So...Helsbelles...Why wasn't the mudtrap at Monmouth fair? All of the horses had to run in the slop, including Curlin and he won. And as far as him not facing Street Sense, Hard Spun, Any Gvien Saturday, & Lawyer Ron this year (2008)....he beat 'em in 2007. Where were they in 2008? He is a great horse and deserved the 2nd winning of Horse of the Year! Yes! Go Curlin!

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Horseguy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:47:32 GMT

Open Company is open company. Simple as that. Show me a graded stake who's conditions says open to colts and geldings only. NONE. Plenty that say open to fillies and mares only. Fair enough. H.O.Y. candidates should be only ones that ran in open company. Because there is no restrictions. That being said fillies entered in the KY Derby should be held to the same standard. Their graded qualifying stakes earnings should only come from open company graded stakes. That's why we have the KY Oaks The fillies Derby.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Whatever — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:54:51 GMT

Curlin is a deserving winner. I was worried they would give it to the synthetic track star, Raven's Pass. Glad they have some common sense. For once, It was nice to see a sound, consistant horse continue on as a 4 year old. It was also very nice to see a horse's connections NOT AFRAID to take on all comers, regardless of the competition, conditions, specific track surface, distance, etc...That was nice to see, also very rare in horse racing.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Phil — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:44:13 GMT

It's simple for Zenyatta. Race against top competition on different surfaces. Don't hide on the synthetic surfaces. And she needs to race against open competition. If you want to be HOY, that's what you have to do. It's not a secret. She did what she needed to do to win female honors. But not nearly enough to be HOY. Especially considering the year Curlin had.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

The Wizard — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:33:50 GMT

Fortunately the turf writers stayed with tradition and rightfully voted Curlin HOTY. Zenyatta had a terrific year, but only in California except for one race, and mostly on the fake surface. And she is after all a filly, who beat only fillies and mares. You got to beat the boys to be HOTY unless there weren't any standout colts and geldings (Azeri).

And if you compare the Beyer Speed ratings for their races in 2008, Curlin's ratings were consistently

higher...he is simply the faster horse.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Abbie Knowles — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:40:15 GMT

Curlin is a marvellous horse but not as good as Cigar, Seattle Slew (how on earth he was not horse of the year in 1978 when he beat Affirmed twice is beyond me!)and Secretariat. He cannot help having owners like his!

However Curlin is a great champion as is Zenyatta. Opinions as to who should have won will always differ and there is something special about an unbeaten racehorse! So can sympathize with Zenyatta fans and am a big one myself! She is terrific! I love Street Cry and wanted him to win the Dubai World Cup and was so pleased he did. Have followed his career as a stallion with great interest as i do all the Darley stallions!

Do very much hope that Curlin will make a top stallion and he certainly has both the pedigree and looks to do so and will, i am sure, be given the best possible opportunities seeing as he is at Lane's End. i follow all their stallions too, especially A P Indy of course!

A great article, many thanks.

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Johnny — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:40:15 GMT

Congratulations to Curlin and his connections for a second HOY. Curlin danced every dance, always showed up, and took on anyone willing to be there against him. And he raced on all types of surfaces, even when things didn't always turn out right. He was willing to give it a go no matter what the surface was.

I don't agree with those who feel a filly or mare needs to beat the males to earn Horse of the Year. The honor is bestowed on the horse who performed the best during the entire year, not who necessarily performed and won in either the BC Classic or against males. Those two accomplishments would certainly be wonderful, but they are not prerequisites.

Azeri was 2002 HOY and to my understanding, at that point had never faced males.

Best wishes to all the horses and people earning Eclipse Awards last night. You are all true champions.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lyla — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:23:25 GMT

Congratulations Curlin!!! There will always be the naysayers, but the overwehlming vote (eclipse voters and the people's vote) says it all. Curlin was seen, and Curlin got his due.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Julie L. — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:25:04 GMT

Those last two lines in your article concerning Affirmed and Curlin were great. I am so pleased that Curlin repeated as Horse of the Year as he rightly deserved it. I don't follow others who say he didn't. Zenyatta is a brilliant filly but let's face facts if she does deserve HOY then being of the weaker sex she is expected to compete one on one with the boys to prove she rightly deserves HOY. I don't feel that it is a put down to mares or females in general (me being one) I am just realistic in the fact that males tend to be stronger and faster than females. So, I believe it's time for Zenyatta, with her being a big girl to boot, to take on the boys. I think that she will be able to handle them just fine and would love to see her in the Santa Anita Handicap. If she does this and wins and she stays in the same form as last year then she should win HOY hands down.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Matthew W — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:18:10 GMT

Lawduck you're wrong! Fillies DO NOT need to face/beat males--indeed, there is a strong difference in the two from 7fur thru 1 1/4 mi...Horse Of The Year is NOT, nor has it ever been, for the horse who would win the race--rather it's for the horse that ran the best races---no one was saying Favorite trick, Ladys Secret, Kotashan would've beat them all at 1 1/4 on the dirt---they were HOY because they had the best years! Curlin DID NOT have to win on grass, did he? He wasn't supposed to. Zenyatta did all she was supposed to do, and she did it with style.....The point is this WAS a very weak year for males--you said it! If you trade coasts, have Curlin out West and Zenyatta back East, brother it's no contest, Zenyatta would have been recognized for the great mare she was....

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lawduck07 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:30:34 GMT

Aye! Sorry for the double post!!! I thought the first one didn't post (I had to do the old Control Alt Delete deal) and tried to summarize in the second one. I guess I look the fool now. I just feel very strongly about the whole facing open company thing. I also agree with the poster who commented on the turf-dirt bias. Well said.

re: Affirmation by Dan Liebman

Lawduck07 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:35:48 GMT

Smarie - Males aren't penalized against running solely against males because they don't. Males run in "open" races. All races Curlin ran in were open to fillies and mares. Zenyatta should begin her campaign for HOY in 2009 in the Santa Anita Handicap. Then, she needs to race outside of CA more than once.

Plus giving a filly or mare HOY when they only face their own sex devalues the accomplishments of the fillies and mares who have faced open company. Zenyatta is brillant, but she doesn't have anything on Personal Ensign and even Personal Ensigns 13-13 (w/ one or two against open company) didn't get her HOY against the then all-time earnings winner, Alysheba.

Only in a VERY weak year for males, will a filly who doesn't race in open company win HOY a la Azeri.