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Curlin expected to see action in Stephen Foster Handicap!
Trainer Steve Asmussen has announced that 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin will start in the 1 1/8 th mile Grade 1, Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs racecourse.
Curlin recently had a half-mile breeze in :49 seconds which fortified Asmussen's decision to let the horse run in the Stephen Foster Handicap.
There have been recent concerns over whether Curlin would start in the Stephen Foster Handicap. Asmussen disagreed with the 128-pound weight assigned to Curlin as he believes the 4-year-old should have instead been assigned 126 pounds, the weight he carried in winning the Dubai World Cup on March 29.
But Ben Huffman, racing secretary of Churchill Downs racecourse had said he believes Curlin's assignment of 128 pounds is fair, especially considering the record maintained by the Curlin. "He has won the Breeders' Cup, reeled off four in a row, took the Jockey Club (Gold Cup), and easily beat Dubai World Cup horses," Huffman said. "It's a lot of weight, but he's a lot of horse."
The purse for the Stephen Foster Handicap has been pushed up to $1 million as Churchill Downs racecourse offered a $250,000 bonus should a grade I winner race in the event.
Asmussen believes that it would be an injustice to Curlin if he were not allowed to run in the Churchill Downs racecourse event.
Curlin is expected to face the following in the Stephen Foster Handicap:
- Einstein (at 118 pounds)
- Grasshopper (117)
- Brass Hat (116)
- Delightful Kiss (114)
- Jonesboro (114)
- Barcola (113)
- High Blues (113)
- Red Rock Creek (113)
- Sam P. (113)
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