Trainer Steve Asmussen tried something no U.S.-based trainer had done: sending his talented runner Curlin to Dubai seven weeks early and having his last prep over the Nal Al Sheba racecourse.
His reasoning was the 2007 Horse of the Year did his best work after already having a race over a surface. That strategy worked perfect Saturday night, as Curlin was a very impressive winner in the $6 million Dubai World Cup (G1), drawing clear to win by 7 ¾ lengths.
Curlin ran the third-fastest World Cup, stopping the timer in 2:00.15 for the 2,000 meters. The victory paid $2.80 in the international betting pool. There is no wagering on horseracing in Dubai.
Winning rider Robby Albarado was just along for the ride.
“What a horse,” Albarado said. “I just show up and ride him and get the glory but everybody works so hard but I am the one that’s seen. He does it all on race day. It’s easy when you ride a great horse like Curlin. He’s not even tired.”
Asmussen added, “He’s spoiled us with his consistency and brilliance. Pre-race, the horse was in great shape and he stepped from the stalls and just spoiled us again. Since his Breeders’ Cup Classic win, he’s shown us that he can do things quicker and I think he’s proved that again tonight.”
After picking up a $3.6 million payday, Curlin now has career earnings of $8,807,800, well within reach of the all time mark of Cigar, who bankrolled $9.9 million in his career.
Well Armed went out to set moderate early fractions and held on well for third, edged late by Asiatic Boy for the runner up spot.
Trainer Mike de Kock and Richard Dutrow saddled two winners each on the World Cup card.
de Kock won the UAE Derby (G2) with Honour Devil and saddled Sun Classique to win the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).
Sun Classique became the first female to beat the boys in the Sheema Classic.
Dutrow won the Godolphin Mile (G2) with Diamond Stripes, and later on the card was victorious with Benny the Bull in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
Edgar Prado piloted both winners.
Dutrow capped off a tremendous day by winning the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park with Big Brown, The three year old colt overcame a tough post and was sent out to the lead by Kent Desormeaux, drawing clear to win by five lengths.
The colt will now go on to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby as one of the early favorites, despite only having made three career starts.
This Saturday’s Derby preps:
Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 M
The Bay Shore, Aqueduct, 7 F
Illinois Derby, NJC/Hawthorne, 1 1/8 M
Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 M
You don’t have to wait for the First Saturday in May to get a horse wager down on the Kentucky Derby. See the latest Derby future odds on your favorite horse now by visiting .
Weekly horse racing report is courtesy of Mike Dempsey at Turfnsport.com [1]. Mike is a veteran of three decades in the horse racing game and provides exclusive weekly analysis in this space for PointSpread.com readers.