The 2008 Breeders’ Cup is here again. One of the biggest racing events on the US Horse Racing calendar.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships has become recognized as the ultimate test of a Thoroughbred’s talent and ability. Not only offering a platform to enhance and promote Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders’ Cup races provide a powerful year-end championship and a grand spectacle that presents the sport to a worldwide audience. Through the enthusiastic participation of prominent horsemen from around the world who bring their top horses to compete, the Breeders’ Cup has established a reputation for showcasing Thoroughbred racing at the highest level of international competition.
2008 Breeders’ Cup Schedule of Races: Friday, October 24 $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Saturday, October 25 $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon So, which horse is tipped to win this year’s big race - the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic?
Curlin is set to return to defend Breeders’ Cup title - so this horse is surely the favourite.
Majority owner Jess Jackson announced Oct. 14 that reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will defend his title in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at California’s Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25.
Curlin:
Trainer: Steven M. AsmussenLast Jockey: Robby AlbaradoOwner(s): Stonestreet Stables LLC
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Earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic via a Breeders’ Cup Challenge victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Saturday, September 27, 2008.
Strengths: North America’s first $10 million earner, he’s done it all from the 2007 Triple Crown trail, through last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, to this spring’s Dubai World Cup. A pure, Classic-distance runner, he has a proven ability to grind down foes with his massive strides. Consistent, classy and has had the ability to win on a menagerie of different track surfaces and conditions. Sire, Smart Strike, is one of the sport’s top all-weather and turf sires, lending credence to his ability to handle the synthetics.
Weaknesses: A brilliantly fast sophomore in his initial tries, Curlin’s body has grown into massive proportions, and with it, he’s become a bit less athletic and more of a grind-it-out type. Since his highly impressive Dubai World Cup score, he’s returned victorious on several occasions, but most speed-figure calculations and naked-eye tests say he might be a step slower than he was in his brilliant run last autumn. But his style certainly has worked wonders for him, and a step slow for Curlin still may be two or three steps ahead of the rest.
Bet You Didn’t Know: Curlin became the third Preakness winner to annex the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The other two were Alysheba and Sunday Silence.
