Curlin Going for All-Time Money Lead
Jockey Robby Albarado Says Horse Is Racing's Needed Superstar
Jul 1, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg
In his first start since returning from two triumphs in Dubai at Nad al Sheba Race Course, Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year, buried his opponents in the Stephen Foster Handicap June 14 at Churchill Downs, by 4-1/4 lengths, and closed the gap to the top of the all-time money list currently held by Cigar. Curlin has separated himself from the pack in becoming just the third Thoroughbred all-time to earn over $9 million on the track.
Curlin The Manageable
Jockey Albarado got his usual positive response from the golden chestnut in the Stephen Foster when he asked for power. The colt gave his foes the shrug with "routine brilliance," Albarado commented.
Albarado, who has been Curlin's regular rider through two seasons, said the colt is "so manageable" at this point that he never expects the unexpected from his mount. "It just scares me," Albarado said, to envision "how good he can get."
There is no end to Curlin's career in sight. The ultimate goal this season is to point the chestnut to the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he could become only the second horse in the history of that race to win in back-to-back years. Tiznow, elected to the Hall of Fame this season, won in 2000 and in 2001.
All-Time Thoroughbred Racing Money Leaders
- Cigar ----- Starts, 33 -- Wins, 19 -- Seconds, 4 -- Thirds, 5 -- Earnings, $9,999,815
- Skip Away ----- 38 -- 18 --10 -- 6 -- $9,616,360
- Curlin ----- 12 -- 9 -- 1 -- 2 -- $9,396,800
- Fantastic Light ----- 25 -- 12 -- 5 --3 -- $8,486,957
- Invasor ----- 12 -- 11 -- 0 -- 0 -- $7,804,070
- Pleasantly Perfect ----- 18 -- 9 -- 3 -- 2 -- $7,789,880
- Smarty Jones ----- 9 -- 8 -- 1 -- 0 -- $7,613,155
- Silver Charm ----- 24 -- 12 --7 -- 2 -- $6,944,369
- Captain Steve ----- 25 -- 9 -- 3 -- 7 -- $6,828,356
- Alysheba ----- 26 -- 11 -- 8 -- 2 -- $6,672,242
More Superstars More Curlins Needed
"We need a superstar in this business, and I think Curlin has stepped up to the plate," Albarado said after the 1-1/8 miles Stephen Foster victory. The jockey took Curlin off the rail, away from traffic, after a dangerous start that had Curlin bumping the gate. Responding to his rider's management, Curlin raced unaffected to the top of the stretch, gained the lead there wide, as he often does, and charged out for the wire after just a soft flick from Albarado's whip.
Majority owner of Curlin, Jess Jackson, was ecstatic after his horse's Stephen Foster win. "This is just an affirmation of what we felt racing needs," he claimed as the chestnut calmly returned to a standing ovation in the winner's circle.
"We need more heroes. We need more Curlins. We need more racing fans," Jackson said. He expounded on those thoughts by saying he believes that Thoroughbred racing will thrive if the sport returns to the family oriented "scene for the fans...not necessarily for gaming."
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