Full of Run

I am sure it will never come up. But, just in case it does, I hope somebody reminds me NOT to play poker with Steve Asmussen or Jess Jackson.

Asmussen is the master of understatement. I remember last year during the Triple Crown a reporter asked him if Curlin was the best horse he had ever trained. “That would be an accurate statement,” he replied. And as to what makes Curlin special he said, “He runs faster than they do.” Here’s a guy who I am sure is aware that he may never even see, let alone train, a horse of this caliber again. I’d be jumping out of my skin shouting from the mountain tops, and Asmussen is cool as can be.

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In all sports, from Thoroughbred Racing to Soccer, we love to make comparisons. Is David Beckham on par with Pele? Does Barry Bonds really stack up to Hank Arron? If Curlin win the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Saturday, will he honestly occupy a place in history once held by “the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar?”

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Well, I am slowly getting back into the swing of things here. Thanks to all those who showed us support and had patience during my Dad’s illness (which is not over). Today is Thursday, September 4th, and I will use the next few days as well as the weekend to get totally caught up.

The first order of business will be a slight restructuring of the podcast schedule. In speaking with a few advisors, I learned that it was probably a little too ambitious to start off offering two podcasts per week. Not only is it difficult to simply keep up that schedule, it is also a challenge to keep a twice-weekly podcast listenable. So, once a week it is. Without comitting at the moment, I am thinking that Thursday afternoon is the best time to release the show. That way, the upcoming weekend’s races are taking shape, and I can still reference the previous weekend without being too out of date. Of course, I’ll need to post regular blog entries here and there as well.

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What the heck does Curlin have to do to please some people? He is a winner of over $9 Million, has won 5 Grade/Group 1 Stakes including the Preakness, the Breeder’s Cup Classic and the Dubai World Cup, and has done it all in a racing career lasting (so far) a little more than 17 months. He’s won 9 of 13 starts and has never finished off the board. His tour-de-force in the Breeder’s Cup was a tick off the track record, and his World Cup vistory was by a record margin (which he accomplished with ease).

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“He’s tired,” Dutrow said. “Look at my boy.” Then, directing his comments to the horse, he said, “I finally got you. I finally got you tired. Look at my little buddy. You kicked their ass, Brown.”

According to Bloodhorse.com, those are the words of trainer Rick Dutrow in the barn the evening of Big Brown’s recent Kentucky Derby victory. The big horse was tired, and rightfully so. He had just devastated the best horses his generation has to offer, all while making only his fourth start and doing it from the 20th post position.

A performance like that is (more…)