Irish Boy will be the only one that gives a hoot, but did anyone see his race in the Foster this weekend? Wow. Now, that's a champion.

He's pointing to the Arc and his trainer had this nugget:

Asmussen said he would work Curlin on the turf and find a grass race for him in North America on the weekend of July 12-13. He did not say if he had a particular race in mind. He would prefer a race over an international style course, such as those at Arlington Park, Belmont Park or Woodbine. Major turf races for older horses scheduled that weekend include the $500,000 Man O’ War (gr. IT) at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park and the Arlington Handicap (gr. III) at 1 1/4 miles at Arlington Park.


I don't see him going to Arlington for no money.

I bought my Arlington Million tickets yesterday. Look forward to seeing Curlin then, if not sooner.

Will you be there Vince?

I'm thinking about it IB. I think my wife is gone that weekend so it might make it tricky with sitters, etc.

I've been to Arlington only one Thursday so far this year. I think I'm supposed to be there next Friday with the family.

Let me know if you're going, I'll try to make my way through the teeming masses. I've been out 5 times and I am (somehow) only $7 short of even. Thank God.

HRTV gets installed in my apartment on Tuesday. Lord have mercy upon my wallet.

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Fire Phil Emery

I may be going to the million for a bachelor party. I'll expect a full scouting report on who to bet on and I will secretly stalk anyone who looks like a leprechaun.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

OK, to both of you - I have moved up to a strong possibility. My wife is going out of town for the weekend so drop the kids off and take a day at Arlington. Can I drink your Zima Rick?

This may turn into the first successful CSFMB outting not centered on alcohol.

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Fire Phil Emery

or a ESPN1000 remote. Harry will probably be there.

By the way, Curlin appears on the nominations for next weekend's Arlington Handicap. I assume you will hear more this week if he is coming or not.

I'm going on the working assumption that he is not. If he is, I'm SOL as I have to work that day. Oh well. I figured they'd send him to the Man o'War

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Fire Phil Emery

It would make complete sense since it's more dough, but Chicago is closer to Kentucky

My guess is they wait for weather forecasts and send him where the turf will be firm.

As long as you don't make me drink Sam Adams. I can't wait to explain to my bachelor party friends(it's not mine) that I'm going to go find my fake internet friends now. I'll just tell them I hired horse racing experts to save me money.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Don't feel too bad, I'll have to explain it to my girlfriend.

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Fire Phil Emery

What is seating like that day? Is there any chance of getting a seat on one of the benches near the track?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Highly unlikely unless you get there early. Typically they get about 30,000 for that day. All the reserved seats are gone I think (the boxes) and general admission is 15 that day.

Man O war likely for Curlin

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/46030.htm

The breeze followed last week’s seven furlong work on turf in 1:31.20 and was Curlin’s final move in preparation for his expected first outing on turf on Saturday, July 12 in either the $500,000 Man O’ War (gr. IT) at Belmont Park or the $200,000 Arlington Park Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park.

The decision on which race will be Curlin’s target hinges on the resolution of a licensing issue in both racing jurisdictions regarding the colt’s minority owner Midnight Cry Stable.

“He’s an awesome horse – I’m excited,” Asmussen said. “It looks like we ought to know something on the licensing today (July 7), I understand. We’re obviously very anxious about that.”

This weekend’s race will be an important test for Curlin as majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable and Asmussen consider a possible trip to France to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), Europe’s top test for older horses on Oct. 5.


Asmussen would prefer the Man O’ War for Curlin, who has won five consecutive races that include the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I), the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) and the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. The 1 3/8-mile race Man O’ War is expected to attract two other Breeders’ Cup champions in Red Rocks, winner of the John Deere Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs in 2006, and Better Talk Now, winner of the Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004. Grand Couturier, winner of last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) at Saratoga, is also expected to compete.

“That race is coming up fabulous,” said Asmussen. “If you’re going to venture overseas, you don’t want to be kidding yourself about how good or bad you are on the turf.”

If the licensing issue is resolved, Curlin would fly to New York on Thursday for Saturday’s race at Belmont Park. If all goes well in the Man O’ War and the Arc de Triomphe remains the target, Curlin would probably ship to Saratoga for a brief stay in Asmussen’s barn there and travel to France shortly thereafter to train at Chantilly in the weeks leading up to the Arc.

It's official - Curlin is headed to the Man O War.

He's got a tough race ahead of him. I don't know that breeding, form and class are enough to justify a bet at even money or less when switching to the turf and facing former BC winners.

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Fire Phil Emery

He has a nice grass breeding on both sides. Smart Strike is a good turf sire and the same on the other side. Personally, with a horse like this, you don't experiment unless you know the end result will be positive. He will get the race he is looking for and win.

The race I am most interested in this weekend is the Swaps Stakes out west at Hollywood. Colonel John is running in that one -- he's 16/1 to win the Classic right now, and I think that is a pretty good price. I'm going to put some cash down on that tomorrow morning and hope to see him beat that field by several lengths.

That being said, Curlin is just jaw droppingly good. And droppingly isn't even a word.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

4 year olds are better than 3 year olds in general, and this group of three year olds is especially weak. Still, SA is synthetic and Colonel John's home track, so he does have that advantage. I liked CJ in the Derby and I feel he got a tough trip, like a lot of others.

I just got HRTV and TVG installed... and of course I have to work Saturday. Lots of great races! 3 interesting stakes at Arlington, Summit of Speed at Calder including Benny the Bull, the Swaps Stakes and CJ, and Curlin at the Man o'War. Wish I could stay home for it all.

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Fire Phil Emery

I meant to say that I hope to see him beat the Saturday field by several lengths. I certainly doubt that the Classic would be that easy! The "home field advantage" on the Polytrack I think is a big deal... he's proven he can handle it, and I'm guessing that about half of the field of the Classic will either have never raced on poly or will have inconclusive results on the surface. I concur on the trip in the KD (and doesn't that happen every year nowadays? I'd really like to see that scaled back to 14 horses, but that is just a pipe dream.)

As of yesterday, I was supposed to head out to Arlington with my father, but unfortunately I've become a babysitter of both a five year old child and a dog. Still planning on watching some of it on Brisnet though!

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Welcome to the horse racing fans section newper.

I'm VERY disappointed in the stakes at Arlington tomorrow. They have really lost their luster over the last few years and I just don't get why. I think one idea is to scrap the whole 'Million Preview Day' idea. Probably 90% of the horses who run in the Secretariat, Million or Bev D have never seen Arlington until that day.

The whole Mid American Triple (Arlington Classic, American Derby and Secretariat) is not even considered by most three year old owners. Heck the Arlington Cassic is now ungraded. Why would I bring my million dollar horse to a race with no luster now? What's ironic is that horses like Dr. Fager, Ack Ack, Alydar, Smile, Lost Code, Honor Glide (last to win the triple) won this race in the past.

I'm pissed too that I am sure races today will be off the turf to save it for tomorrow. I'm headed out there this afternoon possibly and hate no turf racing. I'm a turf specialist.

I cant believe they only got 6 horses for the Swaps. What a terrible field too. Other than the weight differential, if colonel john doesn't win by open lengths you can count him out of the classic. Two Step Salsa is a Grade 3 winner on the cushion. Tres Borrachos will show speed and if he is unpushed, he could get the 9 furlongs. By the way, I'm still pissed at CJ for the Derby run that cost me cash.

You figure that every year, the opening stretch is going to eat up about 8 horses. CJ was one of those eight. So was Pyro, and he came back pretty nicely. I can't blame the horse.

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Fire Phil Emery

You are right, all races off the turf today.

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Fire Phil Emery

Arlington is very cautious with their turf. They tend to take races off the turf if they have stakes on the weekend and don't want to chop it up. They will also take them off if it will be worse than good. It's been that way for years.

Can you blame them though? The last thing they need is for a featured horse to scratch from their meager turf offerings. IMHO, if they would take some of their stakes money and pool it into a bigger event, they might actually get a horse like Curlin to show up. If not, they'll keep getting the up and coming horses to visit, but unfortunately crowds do not show up for up and comers.
I wish they would grant Arlington the right to have slot machines on site. The extra revenue would enable them to extend these payouts to be on par with southern California or Kentucky or New York.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

You have three separate points here so let me address them all.

1. You are still going to have horses scratch today because that turf will liekly be soft or yielding. They are more cautious because I believe it was something like 10 years ago and they just tore it up on a good day and had to resod and lost a few weeks of grass racing. Bet on the Euros today.

2. As for Curlin, this is the big problem now that AP is part of CDI. If you remember during Cigar's run, RLD put up a million bucks to get him here. Cigar came, the crowds came and everyone was happy. CDI already ponied up a ton of money for Curlin to run in the Foster. They weren't going to add more back to get him another time. Arlington is now a second tier track. Even top trainers send their B and C teams here - Pletcher, Mott, Asmussen for example.

3. Slots are a never ending battle. I just cant see the current governor and legislature ever making it happen. It looked like it had a chance last fall and that went by the wayside quickly. But I caution that even with racinos, there is no guarantee that racing will get better here. There have been studies at some of the racinos that actually show they lose money compared to where they were as a track.

I don't want slots on premises. The results at other racinos has not been good.

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Fire Phil Emery