Will Curlin Become Money Leader?
World Cup Champion Has Moved to Third On All Time Earnings List
Winning both the fall Breeders' Cup Classic and the spring Dubai World Cup Championship, Curlin has climbed to 3rd in all time track earnings behind Skip Away and Cigar.
The great chestnut son of Smart Strike, Curlin, has rushed to the near top of the Thoroughbred ladder in all time career earnings after wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall and the Dubai World Cup Championship on March 29. Curlin trails only Skip Away and Cigar, horses of the year in 1995-1996 (Cigar) and in 1998 (Skip Away) on the career earnings list.
Dubai Records Fell
Curlin's March performance in Dubai was record-breaking. He claimed the world title easily, drawing away by 7-3/4 lengths, a race record, in time of 2:00.15, third best in history and 0.65 of a second off Dubai Millennium's record run of 1:59.50 in 2000.
While Curlin became America's Superhorse, his chief owner, Jess Jackson, praised the chestnut's run as a world class performance and got on the soap box to remind the world that drugs have never been a part of the horse's training. American Thoroughbred racing needs to clean up its "medications" act, he said. "They are drugs," he said, too often used and out of control. He praised Dubai racing, which has a zero tolerance for drugs in the sport, as does he, he said.
Following Are The Top Ten Money Leaders:
- Cigar --- $9,999,815 --- starts, 33; wins, 19; seconds, 4; thirds, 5
- Skip Away --- $9,616,360 --- 38 - 18 -10 - 6
- Curlin --- $8,807,800 --- 11 - 8 - 1 - 2
- Fantastic Light --- $8,486,957 --- 25 - 12 - 5 - 3
- Invasor --- $7,804,070 --- 12 - 11 - 0 - 0
- Pleasantly Perfect --- $7,789,880 --- 18 - 9 - 3 - 2
- Smarty Jones --- $7,613,155 --- 8 - 7 - 1 - 0
- Silver Charm --- $6,944,369 --- 24 - 12 - 7 - 2
- Captain Steve --- $6,828,356 --- 25 - 9 - 3 - 7
- Alysheba --- $6,679,242 --- 26 - 11 - 8 - 2
Curlin's Legacy Could Include Taking Over Top Money Earner Spot
Curlin's winning share of the $6 million World Cup win was $3.6 million, bringing his racing earnings to $8,807,800 thus far. He trails Skip Away by slightly less than $1 million, and Cigar by little over $1 million.
The top racing earners are mainly Breeders' Cup and Dubai World Cup winners. The two classic races are the biggest money draws in Thoroughbred competition. Like Curlin, Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect (No.6 earner) won both Cups. The 7th place horse, Smarty Jones, is the only one not to have competed in either Cup. He won an offered $5 million bonus for capturing both the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
With several more big money races on his schedule, Curlin could become the all time earnings leader.
