Is Curlie great?

[Slewbopper]

I will go out on a limb and say he is the best horse we have seen since Sunday and Easy. Opinions?

[Oaklawnfan]

He's getting better. Kudo's to Scott Blasi. I just ordered the hat.

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by Oaklawnfan

He's getting better. Kudo's to Scott Blasi. I just ordered the hat.

So you are on the bandwagon....

Need about 5 more races to make that call.

[Oaklawnfan]

Originally Posted by Slewbopper

So you are on the bandwagon....

I always was. It's just that I have become a total collecting Geek. I want the hat to get Steve A. or preferrably Scott B. to sign it. That way I could hang it on the wall next to my Stew Elliott, John Servis, Smarty Jones hat. Just another winner of the Arkansas Derby. I've got to get a life.

[Charismatic1]

I like Curlin, and I think he is a phenomenal racehorse, but I'll just go back one year. I strongly believe that last year's Classic/World Cup champion was better and would beat him almost every time at ten furlongs. Curlin may be a bit flashier and a more striking specimen, but other than the UAE Derby following an injury, there hasn't been a more dependable racer and winner out there than Invasor to my eyes.

[Danzig]

best since sunday and easy?

i think ghostzapper and invasor would both eat him for lunch. i think the barbaro/bernardini duo would have as well.
good horses look a lot better when they face horses who have never even won a grade one.

I thought he got asked too early.

I was dead wrong.
The endurance of that animal
is shocking.

[SOREHOOF]

I' m very thankful he's still racing. American owned and bred.

[SOREHOOF]

I think Hardspun would have been better with age. We are cheated out of a handicap division every year.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

I' m very thankful he's still racing. American owned and bred.

Since we are giving out credit let's not forget our neighbours to the north, he's also by a very good Canadian bred sire.

[Oaklawnfan]

Let's face it. There are several horses would have made our day little more interesting if they still were racing. Invasor was a good call.

[ELA]

The "great" arguement is one that has no right or wrong, until the story is really over, and even then it might not. I am a bit biased here on this horse. However, even with that being said, I don't throw around the "great" word that often in this context. "Great" performance, yes, I can say that, and perhaps often, but that's a different context.

I always thought this horse has "great" potential -- from day one. I thought what he did in his first few starts and through the Belmont could have been considered "great" and I wouldn't have argued with anyone who said it. You just don't see that kind of thing happening. Well, now, we have Big Brown to watch. Kind of ironic.

People critisized Curlin's Derby as his traffic trouble wasn't that bad, wasn't as bad as so and so, etc. I don't know why. People critisized his Preakness as he caught a Street Sense who fell asleep, barely won it, etc.. I don't know why. People critisized his Belmont that he got beat by a filly, couldn't beat a filly who got a lousy trip, had every advantage to beat a filly, etc. I don't know why.

I know people critisized his Haskell as he didn't run, was flat. OK, that I know why. Got it. Should we keep going? You beat who you beat, and you beat who shows up. People were talking about Lawyer Ron at the Spa and said he would toy with Curlin. Then it was horse for course and all that.

Anyway, I am glad we get to watch this horse this year and I hope he keeps going, gets better and stays healthy, fit and sound.

Eric

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

I think Hardspun would have been better with age. We are cheated out of a handicap division every year.

i agree how can we tell? no one sticks around long enough to find out . i thought cigar was pretty good, so was skip away. then invasor but he ended early too. i got to believe they just don't make them like they used to. when they do they either get hurt or retire after 3. now he basically runs against slugs until the 3 yo season gets sorted out this fall. face it whos out there to seriuosly challange this horse right now ?

[Scav]

If you use the sheets, Invasor and Curlin are on par with each other. Ghostzapper was in another planet as far as numbers went.

I think Zapper was in the -6 range where Invasor/Curlin are in the -4 range....

My guess is we will only get to see Curlin race 3 more times, he will get a good layoff probably until August now. Probably the Woodward, JCGC, BC Classic....Unless they maybe go out west to make sure he wants the poly crap....

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I would think they will run him in the Goodwood as his final BC Classic prep.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I would think they will run him in the Goodwood as his final BC Classic prep.

It is very possible, but Asmussen doesn't run very often in California, very little actually.....Actually I don't remember the last Asmussen starter, maybe in one of those early stakes baby races at Hollywood....

[hockey2315]

I'd love to see them try him on the turf

[Scav]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I'd love to see them try him on the turf

I would to, but him winning on the turf really won't matter becuase he is already very valuable. Risk vs Reward there won't be great enough to even try it.....If anything, it could hurt them because he already has a ton of turf breeding, and him not showing up on it would be a negative.

[smuthg]

Originally Posted by Scav

I would to, but him winning on the turf really won't matter becuase he is already very valuable. Risk vs Reward there won't be great enough to even try it.....If anything, it could hurt them because he already has a ton of turf breeding, and him not showing up on it would be a negative.

I think his next race is in CA... I don't know if he shows up for the Pacific Classic, but I'd bet he runs on the polycrap at least once prior to the Classic. I do think Jess Jackson is trying to best Cigar's earnings mark, so I'd bet we get at least two more starts out of him. Speaking of turf, any chance he could go win the Arc? Now that would be special...