2008 Man o' War Stakes

[SuperCharlieKitty]

Curlin ran a winning race, but his owners should have chosen an easier race for Curlin's first try on turf, not a field with two Breeders Cup winners who are turf specialists.

[wakeboardadict8956]

If you think about it, Curlin had never raced on grass before, he hade some heart

[GBeret83]

I remember well when Red Rocks was sent over from Ireland to run in this race in 2008. I personally never thought that Red Rocks beating Curlin in the Man O' War Stakes was that big of an upset. Considering that Red Rocks had won the Breeders Cup Turf in 2006. Curlin, simply put, was just a better horse on conventional dirt than he was on the turf. JMO.

[MichaelJs1luv96]

I remember my mom and dad signed me up for a race once and I got 5th place out of 17 horses!!!!!!

[laoadmin10000]

what the heck

[GBeret83]

I remember vividly my wife and I watching this race on t.v. I told my wife "Curlin is not a grass horse, he won't win this race." As it turned out I was right. It takes a very special horse to run well on all surfaces. Bottom line, Curlin was a dirt horse, period. He didn't win on turf and as we found out later in the year, he didn't like synthetics either. Secretariat ran well on both grass and dirt, winning this race easily in 1973. He wasn't around for synth. but I have a hunch he'd done o.k.

[LestatMonCopain]

I have to say Curlin looked phenominal...if he had moved just a tad earliar...AHHHH

[tigerboy1966]

I suppose the equivalent would be an American Grade 3 horse coming over to Europe and beating Duke of Marmalade and Youmzain on the dirt at Lingfield (somehow I can't imagine that!). Keep Curlin on the dirt and keep him in America; he's a very good horse by US standards, but he would be embarrassed and humiliated on European turf.

[fourcz214]

Red Rocks was the 2006 turf winner at the breeders cup, he is a grade 1 horse. After a couple more starts before the Arc, Curlin will be ready and win

[heiroROX]

curlin ran a good race....just not good enough and yes TXRider that race call made me want 2 blast my ear drums out

[TXRider]

p.s. That has got to be the most got danged annoying race call I've ever heard.

[TXRider]

Okay, Curlin didn't have that famous drive. But heck, he did what was asked and put away Sudan who is an excellent 'turf digger'. It's his (Curlin's) first try on dirt...he'll improve!

[luvlife77]

excuses, excuses, if euros get ripped for having excuses in breeders cup races, then so should americans for turf

the horse couldnt beat a rag

Red Rocks is a plain G3 horse at best

id rather Curlin prove he is a good dirt horse

then come and disgrace the arc

[alysheba1994]

That's true... Red Rocks, although a great racer in the States won only a Grade 3 (Richard Gordon Stakes) abroad in Spring of 2007. Curlin should improve on turf, but he will have to improve a whole lot to beat top horses in Europe who are known to fly past Red Rocks.

[alifabulous]

I agree with realeasygoer; Albarado had Curlin too far off the pace. Castellano is riding the grass very well nowadays and had Red Rocks perfectly rated behind the two knuckleheads in the speed duel in front. All Albarado had to do was stay a bit closer (not latched on) to RR vs the terrible rating job that he did, shame on him. Alb probably thought that Curlin could make up for his sloppy mistakes. But Curlin's still the best!

[Ranall75]

Sudan held gamely after that duel and is a horse I can definitely see scoring an upset next time he races at Gr.I level. I saw him race a Gr.III at Golden Gate Fields where he absolutely blistered the field and was one of the most impressive looking horses I'd seen in the paddock in quite some time. To get caught in a duel like that and hold for 4th with horses like Curlin and Red Rocks breathing down your neck is quite a feat.

[1989dmoney]

red rocks ran a good race. curlin did not have any excuses he is just better on dirt than turf.they should not let curlin run on turf anymore. i thought it was dumb doing it in the first place because he wasn't doing anything wrong on dirt so they should have never ran him on the turf. but big ups to the winner red rocks he ran a great race to win it.

[ghostzapper2006]

Curlin had no excuses. He had absolute dead aim and clear running at Red rocks at the top of the lane and simply was outkicked late and he wasn't all that wide on turn 2. No legit excuse and nothing wrong with losing to RR in a turf marathon. Regarding the comment that Better Talk Now would win given 3or 4 more strides =LMFAO. Not sure what race you were watching but it wasn't the 08' MOW. He might have won with another 12-15 strides, but there is no way he was cathing RR in 3-4more strides.

[realeasygoer]

i believe curlin is the kind of horse that can beat anyone on any surface. he never failed. look at his preakness that was a loosing ride but he won. curlin is versitile and his most dominant proformances have come when he is close to the lead. eg. maiden, arkesas and dubi. all losses have come when he moved late. i would be furious if he raced bb and alberado made hin loose.

[giselle433]

I also feel that this race wasn't a good indication of how Curlin could do on turf. He broke late, had a ridiciulous speed duel in front of him, was perhaps too far off the pace, and it was his first time ever on turf, and first time running that distance in over a year. I say give him one more try on turf.  In addition to all that, to come in second to a breeders cup turf winner and to beat horses that have been trained most of their lives on turf is pretty impressive.

[centreman41]

I want to see Curlin vs Big Brown (with a good shoe) in the Classic.

[centreman41]

I want to see Curlin v Big Brown in the Classic.

[realeasygoer]

i am really upset about this race, i love curlin and i love horse racing but i cant stand the human element making these kind of mistakes. i own and train race horses so i want to know why do they put curlin so far off the pace. they did it in the derby. also why does alberado let other horses move before him when he is in a position to move eg. s.s in the derby, r.t.r in the belmont, a.g.s. in the haskell now r.r. in the this race. why wait behind on a horse like this.

[bronco3250]

I think Curlin is stalker, and the pace was pretty fast, actually blistering. That is his style and the turf had to play a part.

[upnunder13]

Curlin was perhaps too wide on the last turn. had he been closer to the rail, he would have saved more ground. still, he ran a good race. Better Talk Now was gobbling up ground down the stretch and needed 3-4 more strides to perhaps get up for the win.

[samrothstein1]

Curlin still ran a good race - to be beat by Red Rocks is not anything to be disappointed in. He has nothing to prove - can end his career easliy on dirt/synthetic or if they try the Arc, then good for them. Would like to see him at Arlington for the Million.

[gregcz2000]

Clearly, I meant turf.

[gregcz2000]

It's his first race on the dirt, and he faced some good competition. Anybody remember the Kentucky Derby? Curlin will be lightyears better after this race.

[giselle433]

I agree that Curlin will improve after his first try on turf.  He reminded me of his earlier races. He just needs a little practice on turf and he'll be amazing there as well.

[theslug06]

curlin is a great horse but i dont think his connections shoud bring him to France for the l'arc the triomphe i mean duke of marmalade will beat him out of sight if he runs in it cos he beat red rocks in the coronation stakes at royal Ascot and beat him well red rocks could only manage sixth place!!

[namesdntexist]

To add to that - at least Curlin is not a quitter, like the Big Brown team...

[namesdntexist]

I feel so bad for Curlin!

He broke poorly. Even a novice could see that. But to come in second doing something you've never done before is pretty damn good!!

He should try again in the BC - end on a high.

[ThoroughbredGirl96]

Curlin has never 'raced' on grass before now. Maybe thats why he lost. He's run on it but never has he raced on turf. I'm sorry you lost Curlin.

[jeffinny113]

curlin should just wait to run in the jockey club gold cup, then the classic, and end his career that way.. why play games with the grass. silly.

running in the whitney would be too soon and a mistake

[upnunder13]

Great points...I totally agree.

[b00mer70]

Red Rocks would have to sprout wings to beat soldier of fortune,duke of marmalade, getaway,etc. over 1.5 miles in france in my opinion. I'm a curlin fan but I know curlin should not go to the arc if he wishes to end his career on a high.

[CiscoGirl07]

oui, mais si vous allez par les cotes Curlin est la meilleure au monde. Donc, je pense qu'il a une chance

[CiscoGirl07]

Im Irish I posted in French for WHR06's benefit. What I said was: yes, but if you go by ratings Curlin is the best in the world. So I think he has a chance. And he does have a chance. For the record Red Rocks is very good over here in Europe.

[mcreste]

curlin is great for racing, keep racing this great horse!

[CatzKr]

Not bad for a first run on the grass. Especially if there'd be more time before the Arc, Curlin could definitely be a horse to watch in that race.

[tattynsmokey]

i wish curlin would of won 2 he deserved it

[WHR06]

aucune chance pour curlin dans l'arc vu que red rocks n'est pas consideré comme un grand en europe

[sparrowxy]

mais celui qui a gagne le Breeders cup turf

[mpapile]

Curlin is a great horse, I was at belmont today. I am glad they are still bringing him out it is great for racing. There were a lot of people down there you do not see at tracks anymore. There were a lot of cheers for him, and he ran well. Red Rocks is the turf winner in the breeders cup so he is no slouch either.

[truebluegrit]

i wish curlin would have won!