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Published Friday, October 24, 2008

Curlin Seeking to Defend Classic Win

Those of you who have stopped to take time to read my horse racing columns should know that I predicted coming into 2008 we would have our first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Big Brown, to me, looked like a stallion facing yearlings. He was that good and I am as shocked as anyone with his poor showing in the Belmont Stakes.

Following the Belmont, there was speculation when he would run again. He made a successful comeback and all signs pointed to today's $5,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic and a showdown with 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

There will be no showdown this afternoon at Santa Anita. Less than two weeks ago, Big Brown took a bad step, and was immediately retired.

While I admit that the sport could have used a monumental meeting between the two, all hasn't been lost.

Curlin is the defending champion of the race and every bit as deserving as playing the lead role. You may recall a column of mine from June of 2007 when I picked the filly Rags To Riches to upset Curlin in the Belmont Stakes.

I was right. The filly hit the line just ahead of her gorgeous rival. In defeat, Curlin showed me something that afternoon. He was nothing short of determined, but his trip was anything but perfect.

Curlin's outing that afternoon and a tuneup I watched last summer led me to sucessfully pick him in the 2007 Classic. I spent hours looking for another horse racing writer who was willing to give him a nod. I found no one, nor did any of the ESPN crew believe in him.

Fast forward to today. I imagine all of the broadcast crew will be picking this magnificant participant. A win should lock up another Horse of the Year award.

But it won't be easy. Curlin has to start from a difficult post position (No.9) and I'm not sure he will find the Santa Anita surface to his liking.

Curlin was impressive on Monday in a practice outing, taking the Pro-Line five furlong surface workout in 59 seconds flat.

Big Brown wouldn't have beat him today. And I hope none of the other challengers, including a quality group of three European qualifiers, can get past him.

With a victory, I'd be willing to easily say Curlin's the best I've ever seen. Post-time should be somewhere close to 6:45 p.m.

The undercard today also includes Well Armed and Pyro in the Dirt Mile and Kip Deville and Goldikova in the Turf Mile.

Better Talk Now, who is still competing exceptionally well at the unbelievable age of nine, is entered in the $3,000,000 Emirates Airline Turf.

Better Talk Now won the 2004 Turf and was second in the 2006 Turf. He'll walk out of the starting gate but will be charging for the wire. His stiffest competition will come from Red Rocks and Soldier of Fortune.

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