Vote on Curlin's Future

ArchDandy · Postby **ArchDandy** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:30 pm

http://stonestreetfarms.com/

I voted synthetic because Im really hoping for a Curlin-Big Brown-Casino Drive showdown at Santa Anita. Although I'd love to see him take a stab at tying Lava Man's G1 win on 3 surfaces.

cindylou · Postby **cindylou** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:20 am

I voted synthetic too. I also want him to come to the breeders cup.
I really want a chance to see him.
Call me selfish! LOL
While I still would like to see him go once more on the grass and supported the idea of the Arc, I just can't help but wish to see him
in the paddock at Santa Anita. I wondered if any So. Cal. fans might be voting with the same thought in mind. I already have my confirmation for Breeders cup tickets. After the preakness, I was really excited about Big Brown and Curlin in the Classic etc. But after the Belmont, I dont much care whether big brown shows up or not.

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:17 am

This vote shows democracy's biggest flaw. Turf campaign is running away with the vote, and I think that would be the worst plan for him.

BenB · Postby **BenB** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:22 am

His future won,t be on firm turf ground that,s for sure.
He is not fast enough for that.

gotpaints · Postby **gotpaints** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:44 pm

I voted turf. I feel like people are discounting him off of one turf start (where he broke bad) where he finished 2nd and only a few workouts on turf. I'd like to see him in at least one more turf race where he gets a good break before I say he sucks on turf (which obviously he doesn't).

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:01 pm

Here's my analogy. Let's look at Babe Ruth. He was a good pitcher, and had he been a pitcher his whole career, he may even have been a hall-of-fame pitcher. But as an outfielder, where he could hit every day, he changed the game. It's all baseball, and he probably would have succeeded wherever he played and done whatever management asked of him, but as a hitter he brought a lot of new fans to the game and helped to elevate it to a new level.

Now I'm not saying that Curlin would have the same impact on racing that the Babe had for baseball. I'm just saying that Curlin on turf is like the Babe pitching--still better than most, but clearly not the best place for him.

ArchDandy · Postby **ArchDandy** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:56 pm

Curlin has never had to "run" on the turf before, he worked on it a few times and had to do a LOT of learning in that race, which just happened to be a grade 1, and even still with the learning comes in 2nd. Another Turf start should clear things up for his owners as to whether hes good on the turf or should stick with only dirt.

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:06 pm

Sure, another start on the turf may clear things up a bit, but Curlin only has maybe a handful of starts left before retirement. Why waste one in an experiment? Sure, it was his first race on grass, and sure he finished 2nd in a Grade I that featured two past BC turf winners. Still, those two runners are definitely on the backside of their best days and are significantly lower in quality than what he'd be facing in the Arc.

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:47 pm

Call me crazy but I went with Turf too. I just want to see if maybe he just needed an adjustment period. Even if he runs like he did, he's still good on turf. You can't fault a horse for that.

And I think I love J Jackson even more. How cool to poll the fans. I don't care for wine, but I think from now on I will gift Kendall Jackson only lol!!

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:51 pm

Could someone tell me what a horse has to "learn" about running on grass? I vote BC Classic. Attendance would be huge.

gotpaints · Postby **gotpaints** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:48 am

Tiz wrote:Could someone tell me what a horse has to "learn" about running on grass? I vote BC Classic. Attendance would be huge.

It's a different surface. They have to get used to it, just because they have raced on a different surface doesn't mean they will come on to the other surface the same right away. An example would be someone who always runs on sidewalks all the time and runs great, throw them on grass and the first few times they won't run as good because there's a different handle to it.

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:25 am

I just think he deserves another go. If I were Jackson , I'd at least want to take the chance standing a sire that could conquer all surfaces.

horsenuts · Postby **horsenuts** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:04 pm

It's a given he's the best dirt horse in the world so nothing left to prove there. I'd try the Arlington Million as it is one of the 3 best turf races in the US. If he runs big in the AM I'd aim for the BCT. One more shot on the turf makes sense and the AM is the best upcoming race.

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:29 pm

I've said it before and the results of the Man O' War doesn't change my opinion. Running 3rd in the Arc will do more Curlins' stud fee than winning the BC Classic again. Curlins' pedigree does not scream 'commercial sire prospect' therefore for him to be a successful commercial sire he is going to need his foals to be in demand by buyers from the global, not just US, market. International is the only serious way to campaign him. JMHO

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:58 pm

Gotpaints, most horses are raised on grass, so it seems like they wouldn't be too taken back by it. My question was facetious, but I am still really curious about what everyone who mentioned learning about grass means. Seems like learning to rate willingly would be more important. What else?

Curlin doesn't need the Arc, but our big races could use him. It's about racing. I don't get excited about the foals he may sire, but the dragons he meets, and defeats, now.