Saratoga 150 Feature: Curlin
1,188 views · Published 26 July 2013 · 2:05 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: The New York Racing Association · 2013 · Sports
Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin made only one appearance at Saratoga Race Course, but it was a memorable one. On the heels of a 3-year-old campaign that included victories in the Preakness, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Stonestreet Stable colt launched his 2008 season with Grade 1 wins in the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster. Determined to cement Curlin's place in equine history, owner Jess Jackson tried the colt on turf, but a second-place finish in the Man o' War at Belmont convinced Jackson not to take a shot at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Instead, Curlin was redirected to dirt and the 55th running of the Grade 1, 1 1/8 mile Woodward at the Spa became a major objective. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, Curlin ran down 40-1 shot Past the Point in deep stretch and onto a 1 ¼-length victory. It not only was his fourth win of the year, it moved Curlin past Skip Away and into second place behind Cigar as thoroughbred racing's all-time leading money earner. One month later, Curlin successfully defended his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and became racing's first $10 million horse. Following a fourth-place finish in the Classic, Curlin earned his second Horse of the year title and was retired. Overall, the Smart Strike colt was 19-4-5 from 33 starts with a bankroll of $10,501,800.
