Saturday’s 49th edition of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man O’War Stakes at 11 furlongs was the first start on grass for 4-year-old Curlin, whose owner, Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable, is intent on making the Smart Strike horse an international star and a fan favorite.
The reason for running here was to see if Curlin, a monster on dirt, fit with quality turf horses.
“He didn’t embarrass himself and he sure didn’t embarrass me,” Jackson said.
So, he fared well in first try on a different surface.
But Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen were hoping for a definite sign that he would be able to go forward and take on a race like the Prix Foy at Longchamp Race Course in Paris as a prep for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 5.
What they got instead was a whole lot of maybe.
“We just didn’t see that late kick from him today,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if that was because he is still getting used to the turf or what. These are some of the things I will have to talk to Steve (Asmussen) about. My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test. We know what he can do on dirt, and that is always an option.
“I’m disappointed, but this is not a setback. And the horse that beat him is a very good horse, and I congratulate them on a great race.”
Oh yes, Red Rocks.
Although the free admission crowd of 8,428 came to see Curlin, it was Red Rocks who chewed the scenery.
The 5-year-old Irish-bred son of Galileo, wearing blinkers for the first time, got an intelligent ride from jockey Javier Castellano, who settled him well behind a nonsensical speed duel of 22.69 and .47.62 by Mission Approved and Sudan, another Irish-bred.
As he loped along, the leaders backed up and Red Rocks had plenty left for the inevitable challenge of Curlin.
“That's was a dream trip for my horse,” Castellano said. “I sat behind the speed, made my move and then waited for the late kick of Curlin. I didn’t see Curlin for a while but because I had such a great trip, I thought I would be able to hold on.”
Curlin easily passed the others, but didn’t have his customary and explosive late move. Red Rocks was the winner in 2:00.74, and while the crowd of applauded Curlin before, during and after the race, the prize was well-earned by deserving runner.
“I met Javier (Castellano, jockey) in the paddock this morning and the pace up front was as he said it was going to be,” said winning trainer Brian Meehan, whose charge returned $14.40 to win. “Once he got into the straight and got straightened up and balanced, I knew he was going to be hard to pass.
“He’s a five-year-old horse now and he’s proved himself with Group/Grade 1 horses all his life. Everything is always easy with him. He hasn’t been given the kudos he deserves since (he won) the Breeders’ Cup (Turf). Today, he confirmed he is one of the best middle distance turf horses in the world and has been for the last two, three years.”
When asked about beating Curlin, Meehan simply stated: “It is about beating the field and Curlin happened to be in there. Everybody loves a champion and today Red Rocks is a champion.”
Sudan was fourth, followed by True Cause, Grand Couturier and Mission Approved.
Plans now are for Curlin to head to Saratoga to train on the Oklahoma Track for whatever will be his next assignment.
“He ran second,” Asmussen said. “We’ll just evaluate how he comes out of the race. I don’t want to rush to judgment. He was a step slow coming out of the gate; I wasn’t surprised as he had the outside draw. We’ll just evaluate more thoroughly. We’ll monitor his condition. He looked like he ran second to a Breeders’ Cup winner.”
Said jockey Robbie Albarado: “Obviously, he didn’t grab me like he normally does. It wasn’t an awful race. He was up against it with a couple of Breeders’ Cup winners. His acceleration was a little different. He felt great, physically. He wasn’t stressed or tired when I pulled him up.
“It’s up to (his connections) but I would like to see him get another chance, another shot on turf. It’s like a first race for him, a new chapter. He’s got tons of talent and maybe that’s what got him second today. He felt comfortable over it. (But) to say he loves it? Maybe next time will be his `show up’ race”
MAN O’WAR STAKES QUOTES
Winning trainer Brian Meehan of Red Rocks (IRE) (No. 6): “I met Javier (Castellano, jockey) in the paddock this morning and the pace up front was as he said it was going to be. Once he got into the straight and got straightened up and balanced, I knew he was going to be hard to pass.
“He’s a five year old horse now and he’s proved himself with Group/Grade 1 horses all his life. Everything is always easy with him. He hasn’t been given the kudos he deserves since (he won) the Breeders’ Cup (Turf). Today, he confirmed he is one of the best middle distance turf horses in the world and has been for the last two, three years.
(on beating Curlin): “It is about beating the field and Curlin happened to be in there. Everybody loves a champion and today Red Rocks is a champion.”
Winning jockey Javier Castellano: “That's was a dream trip for my horse. I sat behind the speed, made my move and then waited for the late kick of Curlin. I didn’t see Curlin for a while but because I had such a great trip, I thought I would be able to hold on.”
Jess Jackson, owner of Stonestreet Stables of runner-up and beaten favorite Curlin (No. 7): “The people applauded him in the paddock, all the way around and when he came back. It was a great race for the fans and this is part of what we are trying to do.
“He was Curlin. Very alert, he even nuzzled me and licked my hand in the paddock, so he knows us, knows what he’s doing. We just didn’t see that late kick from him today. I don’t know if that was because he is still getting used to the turf or what. These are some of the things I will have to talk to Steve (Asmussen, trainer) about. My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test. We know what he can do on dirt, and that is always an option.
“I’m disappointed, but this is not a setback. And the horse that beat him is a very good horse, and I congratulate them on a great race.
“We’ll go back to the barn in about an hour, and after he gets his bath, if he is hungry, we’ll know that he is okay. It might take another week to see how he comes back, but he has always rebounded well.”
Steve Asmussen, trainer of Curlin: “He ran second. We’ll just evaluate how he comes out of the race. I don’t want to rush to judgment. He was a step slow coming out of the gate; I wasn’t surprised as he had the outside draw. We’ll just evaluate more thoroughly. We’ll monitor his condition. He looked like he ran second to a Breeders’ Cup winner.”
(regarding pace): “The winner had the same pace.”
H. Graham Motion, trainer of third-place finisher Better Talk Now (No.1): “It’s a shame for them that it didn’t work out. People just don’t take risks anymore. It was a tough assignment. I admire that they took a shot.”
Ramon Dominguez, jockey of Better Talk Now: “He has won all types of conditions, but I think he might be a little better when the turf is on the soft side. I was pleased with him. I thought he ran a great race.”
Robby Albarado, jockey of beaten favorite and runner-up Curlin: “Obviously, he didn’t grab me like he normally does. It wasn’t an awful race. He was up against it with a couple of Breeders’ Cup winners. His acceleration was a little different. He felt great, physically. He wasn’t stressed or tired when I pulled him up.
“It’s up to (his connections) but I would like to see him get another chance, another shot on turf. It’s like a first race for him, a new chapter. He’s got tons of talent and maybe that’s what got him second today. He felt comfortable over it. (But) to say he loves it? Maybe next time will be his `show up’ race”