$10 Million Dollar Club

Curlin has done it!


photo: Thoroughbred Times

He made history today by winning the $750,000 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (two years in a row) and he becomes the only horse to go over the $10 million dollar mark in earnings! He now has reached $10,246,800, with Cigar now in second place with $9,999,815.

The race was won by three quarters of a length over a sloppy Belmont track. Curlin was hand-ridden over the finish line by his one and only jockey, Robby Albarado. He is trained by Steve Assmussen. Wanderin' Boy gave it his all but could only grab second to this class act.

Curlin has won 11 of 15 races and has never finished out of the money. He was unraced at age 2, meaning that he has only raced two years and has has two $5 million dollar years in a row, an unbelievable accomplishment.
Not to ever take anything away from Cigar, who had an astonishing 16 race win streak going in 1995-96. Cigar will always be at the top of anyones list of great racehorses. And when you figure in purse inflation over the last twelve years, you come up with a fairly even match with these two, both winning a Dubai World Cup, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic, among other identical wins.

The BloodHorse website is stating that soon after the race, Curlin's owner, Jess Jackson (owner of Kendall-Jackson wines -yum!) has decided to ship Curlin to Santa Anita Park in California to prepare for what all racing fans have been wishing for - a run in the Breeders' Cup Classic at the World Thoroughbred Championships on October 25th! So the big, highly anticipated match up between Curlin and Big Brown is actually going to occur!! Needless to say, I'm psyched.

He will have some major competition in the Classic, however. Besides Big Brown, there will be all the horses who have done well this year here in the US (Colonel John, Go Between, Commentator, Pyro, Tiago, Well Armed..), as well as an overseas contingent (Casino Drive, Henrythenavigator,Spirit One..), so he's got his hands (or should I say hooves?) full.
But I feel he is up to the task. A win would make him Horse of the Year for the second year in a row. Oh what the hell am I saying? He probably has that wrapped up anyway.

So congrats Curlin, and you better believe I think you will stomp the competition in the Classic.
You are currently the best thoroughbred on dirt, in the world. Period.