Asmussen complains; Curlin works

Defending Horse of the Year Curlin, in position after the defeat of Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday to solidify his status as the world's leading thoroughbred, completed his serious training for Saturday’s Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap with an easy half-mile work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike, who has not raced since an emphatic score in the Dubai World Cup in Match, worked over a “fast” track in :49 with exercise rider Carlos Rosas in the saddle. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is displeased with the 128-pound weight assignment, but said Curlin will start nevertheless. The race has a value of $750,000-added, but a Churchill Downs purse supplement of $250,000 will drive the Stephen Foster purse to a record $1 million if at least one winner of a previous Grade I stakes race competes on Saturday.

“We like where he’s at – he’s an awesome horse,” Asmussen said. “It’s all about Curlin now, the other things are out of your control. To not run him would be an injustice to him. But giving solid horses 15 pounds is a challenge. I guess they were happy the day they got Azeri beat here.”

Asmussen referred to the 2004 running of Churchill Downs’ Humana Distaff (GI) in which 2002 “Horse of the Year” Azeri, who carried 124 pounds, was upset by Mayo On the Side, who had been assigned 114 and edged the champion by a head.

Curlin carried 132 pounds in his 2008 debut in the Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, then 126 pounds in a 7 ¾-length romp in the $6 million Dubai World Cup. Asmussen said he thought 126 pounds would have been a more equitable weight assignment for Curlin in the Stephen Foster, which would be Curlin’s third start of the year and his first in the United States.

“When you look at it, you’re giving quality horses 15 pounds and that’s quite significant,” Asmussen said. “He must overcome. They didn’t put him back in training to debate weights.”

Curlin will have regular jockey Robby Albarado in the saddle for the Foster. He has a career record of 8-1-2 in 11 races with earnings of $8,807,800. His two wins this year in Dubai are part of a four-race winning streak by Curlin that also includes last fall’s $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park and the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park.