Quote:
Originally Posted by ateamstupid
I don't remember Curlin having any 'bad days', which is pretty damn remarkable considering the schedule that he had last year. He never had any chance in the Haskell, because it was impossible to close any ground on that track.
If Big Brown raced the schedule that Curlin did at three, he wouldve collapsed in the Belmont even earlier than he did and never been heard from again.
I agree that Curlin's legend is being inflated a bit because of the lack of good handicap horses recently, but he's better than Big Brown. It's not even close.
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I agree with everything you're saying except for this - for the simple fact that Curlin and Any Given Saturday had very similar trips. Curlin was only a length or two behind AGS for most of the race and the two of them were right next to each other at the top of the stretch. If anything Albarado may have moved too soon on Curlin, but I think it's fair to say that Curlin had a bit of an off day in the Haskell - even if it was still an ok performance.
The things that Dutrow said about Curlin are really ridiculous and absurd - you'd think that he would be smart enough to keep his mouth shut this time. I especially enjoyed "Curlin got beat by a filly, we didn't." Well, Dick, you got beat by the whole field in that same race the next year - including a maiden. And "Our horse in undefeated on the grass. Curlin isn't." Aside from the fact that he wasn't "your" horse when he won his ONE start on grass, that was in a MSW vs. nobody while Curlin's was in a Grade 1 vs. two BC winners.