Since Curlin apparently is not going to race...?

Question

...in the Breeders Cup this year, but instead is being pointing to the JCGC, do you think that Big Brown will accept Jess Jacksons challenge to run against him there, or possibly in the Woodward?

Answer 1

No, I don't think they'll change Big Brown's schedule to race Curlin.  They're still counting on Curlin showing up at the Classic... I don't see him running on anything but dirt... and that means no synthetics.  Curlin doesn't have anything to prove this year... they can make their own schedule.  As long as he stays on form, he's pretty much wrapped up horse of the year... he won the worlds richest race against the best international horses, he won the Stephen Foster against the US's best horses... the only time he's not finished 1st was on Turf and he lost to a Breeders Turf winner... and beat one other breeders turf winner!  So if anyone has to go out of there way, it's Big Brown.

But will he?  Of course not!  They're not going to take a chance at racing Curlin before the Classic.  BB's prep has to get him both physically and mentally ready.  He had that tough race in the Haskell and almost didn't manage to run down Coal Play.  That takes a lot out of a horse.  He needs a nice easy race where he can win by 10 lengths.  And they're running him on grass.  Why?  They're reasons will be that it's softer on the feet and that he's a grass horse to begin with.  The reasons they don't tell you are these: (1) they want to be able to say that they did something that Curlin couldn't (win on the grass), (2) he should face a pretty weak field (they're asking Saratoga to create a race just for him!  No one else will have been targetting that race... there might be a couple good turf horses that show up, but most of the breeders turf and mile horses already have plans... creating a brand new race ensures that you're not going to get a lot of good horses to come face you), and (3) by running on the grass, they could be absolutely sure that they wouldn't have to face Curlin!

Dutrow can talk all he wants about how much he wants BB to race Curlin, but his actions speak for themselves.  The reason he's making so much noise over this is because he knows that Curlin has his schedule and it doesn't include racing Big Brown.  You can afford to talk c**p when you won't have to back it up.

They have already said no to the Woodward and I don't think they have any intention of running in the JCGC.

Honestly, I'd rather see a Curlin-Zenyatta race anyway.

Answer 2

Yes  

Answer 3

they will meet up and it just might be a match race!

big money will demand it

Answer 4

I dont think Big Browns connections want to face Curlin. I think Big Brown Is a good horse not a great race horse. Curlin is a seasoned horse and would win on heart alone. I think Big Browns connections know this.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

I doubt we will ever see a Curlin - Big Brown match.  And I personally would not care to see a match race. They are not that good in my opinion. It does not show the quality of either horse in a 2-horse race.  I agree that Dutrow and others do not really want to face Curlin.

I think Curlin would win easily over BB