What Curlin Might Have Done

Hindsight seems to say 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin, as good as he's been, might have been our Triple Crown champion, as well, if he'd raced at age two.

The Best and the Brightest. Stamp Curlin's name there. Curlin entered the 2007 Triple Crown races an untried three-year-old, raw, but eager. He had not raced at age two.

The big chestnut's run in the Kentucky Derby, wide and wild, showed outstanding eagerness, but lack of discipline. He seemed not to know exactly how to achieve victory, even though he finished an eye-opening, if green, third with his game charge down the outside lane.

In two weeks, he grew up, winning the Preakness Stakes by strength and by will, and by responding maturely to his rider, Robby Albarado. He came off the turn in a now familiar powerful sweep wide, and set about running down the Kentucky Derby champ, Street Sense, with a neck to spare.

His graduation in lessons learned and his maturation in putting lessons to use were obvious. Not only was he game and talented, he was a very quick study.

Had the lessons been taught and applied at age two, what might have been for the mighty chestnut, Curlin? Could he have been a Triple Crown champion if he'd entered the Crown races with a season of learning behind him?

He's powerful. He's a stayer, a fighter. He's an indisputable champion of the Thoroughbred world. His Dubai World Cup win was pony's play -- by 7-3/4 lengths.

All told, Curlin, strong son of Smart Strike, deserves to be spoken of in the language of greatness.