A Blog to Cure Curlin Dissenters
Asmussen-Trained, Jackson-Owned Colt Earned His Way
It wasn't Steve Asmussen, or Jess Jackson running around the track in the Triple Crown races, or the Jockey Club Gold Cup, or the muddy Breeders' Cup. It was Curlin.
To not vote for Curlin for 2007 Horse of the Year based on undesireable things his trainer, owner, or breeder might have done is way off the mark! It was't Asmussen, or Jackson running around those tracks thrashing the competition. It was Curlin.
What did Curlin do in 2007?
He became a champion before our eyes, maturing with each experience, learning how to win. After showing his immaturity, but plenty of guts, in the Kentucky Derby and placing third, he quick-studied his way to a narrow victory over 2006 Juvenile Champion, Street Sense, in the Preakness Stakes. In the Belmont Stakes, he came to full bloom, rated, spurted, drove home hard with determination aforethought to win out, but was nosed from the victory by the marvelous A.P. Indy filly, Rags to Riches.
Curlin did it the hard way. With no two-year-old experience, he earned those three placings in the Triple Crown series, becoming one of few who have achieved the feat of staying on the board in all three classics. And he didn't stop learning there.
Asserting himself anew, he won in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
What was not to vote for? You didn't like his trainer's suspension problems? You didn't favor his owners' fighting over him? There are categories in which to vote against those things. Not Best trainer. Not Best owner/breeder.
Curlin ran his heart out after quickly learning how to win.
He earned 2007 HOY. No question.
