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Curlin is Woodward Stakes winner!
Curlin, Horse of the Year 2007, made a successful return to the dirt surface when he captured the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga race track. He accomplished the feat in a somewhat tepid 1:49.34.
Curlin's win in the Woodward Stakes was his 10 th in 14 starts and upped his lifetime earnings to about $9.8 million.
Under the direction of jockey Robby Albarado, Curlin started the race fairly well. Wanderin Boy and Divine Park got the lead in the early stages of the Saratoga race track contest.
Curlin settled into a comfortable stalking position in fourth place on the backstretch as Past the Point and Edgar Prado overtook the early leaders. Past the Point set the pace at that point, even as Curlin moved up on the outside of Divine Park .
Divine Park soon fell out as Curlin passed the spirited Wanderin Boy. Summoning all the strength he's got, Curlin drew even with the equally-determined Past the Point in the upper stretch. Curlin then tolled hard and furious to overtake Past the Point in the final 1/8 th mile to finally cross the wire on top of the heap. He came in 1¼ lengths ahead of Past the Point.
For his part, Past the Point crossed the wire 1½ ahead of Wanderin Boy. A.P. Arrow came in fourth, followed by Loose Leaf, Divine Park and Out of Control.
Curlin paid $2.70, $2.40 and $2.10 for his Woodward Stakes victory while Past the Point returned $13.80 and $6.40. Wanderin Boy paid $3.50 to show.
Curlin's trainer Steve Asmussen was beaming after his ward's victory at Saratoga race track: "Curlin is meant for the big moment. He takes it all in stride."
Jockey Albarado chimed in: "The pace was very, very rapid, but Curlin got away in good order. I was little wider than I wanted to be around the first turn, but he gave me an indication on the backside that he would be there for me. We were between two horses and getting bounced around a little, but he is a big horse and he handled it."
The Woodward Stakes was Curlin's race debut at historic Saratoga race track. |
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