Curlin's Woodward

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:05 pm

Not very impressive but won it with an absolute perfect trip. He staggered home. I don't think he'll be scaring many off any in his next start. Looks vulnerable..

HR LLC · Postby **HR LLC** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:27 pm

I dont think Steve A had him as tight as he would have been for a bigger race.

Curlin put out a lot of effort to win but his B game was good enough for this field. He got caught wide on the first turn and was bumped a little. When he settled down the jockey had to start moving him since the pace really fast.

To me he is still the best dirt horse in the world...

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:04 pm

Definitely B game today. He looked tired coming down to the wire. He might be getting close to being over the top--this start was seven weeks since the Man O' War. Dubai may, I repeat, may be catching up to him. The fractions were a bit quick; he had no problem accelerating to get past the leaders, but he looked like he was running out of steam. He might have been just a little too far back early on.

He still is the champ in my heart.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:39 pm

A little rough in the early stages but he over came. Agreed that it was not visually impressive. AND agreed he's not cranked up as he would be on another day. I still say HOY unless Zenyatta remains defeated and both Big Brown And Curlin falter.

steward · Postby **steward** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:00 am

This locks him in as HOY. Deservedly so.

This would be an appropriate time to retire him. What's the point of continuing on?

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:05 am

Not visually impressive, but the other closers didn't really make up much ground on the two that set a very sharp pace. I only watched the Forego and the Woodward, but based on those two races the track didn't look very forgiving to closers or stalkers. If that's true then Curlins exhaustion coming down the lane is understandable.

He locks up HOY with this win. BB only had a chance if he beat Curlin and it doesn't look like they will ever meet. Zenyatta doesn't have a chance because mares only win when there isn't a dominant older male (not saying it's right just saying it's reality).

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:31 am

I don't think HOY is decided yet. If BB runs the table including beating older horses in the Classic, I think he'll get serious HOY consideration with Curlin ducking him at SA.

Again, I think Curlin is vulnerable. He should have won by 10 half fit yesterday sitting off a very fast pace, yet he could only muster up a two minute lick the last eighth mile...

I think he is tailing off big time and will be hard pressed to win the Gold Cup next time out. Look for plenty of new shooters going after him in his next start..

HR LLC · Postby **HR LLC** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:59 am

Zinn,
HOY is already in the bag. Nobody can touch Curlin especially winning in Dubai then coming back to win in the Foster and Woodward. He has one blemish and that is a lost on the turf to a former BC turf winner.

Even if BB wins at SA, which I doubt he even go out there, people cannot get over that last place finish in the Belmont to horses like D'Tara/Dennis of Cork.

If Curlin retires on Labor Day he is HOY for 2008....

BenB · Postby **BenB** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:59 am

The set pace was a sharp one, in normal cases not a single horse could possible come from off the pace.

And from such a way back.

This has to be a hoy in winning this race.

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:55 pm

BB had to work to get the Haskell and that was coming off the Belmont. BB will most definitely get three year old honors, but HOY would be a stretch. It would be a sad day in racing if BB would get HOY honors after that atrocious Belmont.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:59 pm

I thought it was an excellent race. Look at the fractions 1:09+ 1:35 I have fallen in love with Pass the Point, he ran a really gutty race.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:02 pm

I thought both Curlin and Pass the Point ran excellent races, look at the fractions. 1:09 and change and 1:35 and change. Awesome!

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:22 am

Roger...yeah, those fast fractions were nice but tiring I bet!

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:53 pm

Since when is being bumped and floated out a perfect trip? He had a perfect set up to run into, however the opening stages of the race were not good at all for Curlin. Garcia initiated the floating and bumping and everyone saw where Divine Park finished. Curlin still had the grit and talent to commence a rally and run down a horse on a speed bias track. It may not have been visually impressive at first glance, but all things considered he proved once again hes special. The very special ones do what Curlin did, they produce a winning effort each time they are sent to post. The good ones do what Divine Park did, they bump and want nothing to do with the outcome.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:06 am

Definitely Foggy!