Curlin, by Marion Altiere
June 3 , 2007
Named for a freed slave in the Union Army, the Great-Grandfather of one of his owners, Curlin is a king waiting to be crowned.
OK, so I missed one little handicapping prediction: he didn't win the Kentucky Derby. But he's won everything else he's raced, before and since. And on June 9th in Elmont, New York—I believe that he'll take the 1 ½ miles of the Belmont Stakes like…Grand took Richmond.
Curlin makes me swoon. The day I saw him charge to the lead and win the Arkansas Derby by an astounding 10 ½ lengths, my girlish crush transformed into out-and-out love. He demolished his opponents in the race, picking up speed after the turn for home: my heart was trampled beneath his mighty hooves.
His stride, I noticed, looked like one for every 1 1/3 of his challengers. He has a remarkably long stride, and—could it be?—as he blasted for home, I swear I saw Secretariat lending him the wings of Pegasus. One particular close-up of Curlin coming for home took my breath away: bright red, with a monstrous chest, he did, indeed, bear a striking resemblance to Penny Chenery's Big Red. I saw in his eyes the grit and single-mindedness it takes to be that once-in-a-lifetime horse.
Curlin, I decided with my heart and my head, is a monster waiting to be unleashed.
So he didn't win the Kentucky Derby. He played Musical Positions with Street Sense and Hard Spun, and clearly that day in May—Street Sense had the juice. The three mighty equines played the game again at Pimlico two weeks later, this time Curlin closing like a freight train to beat Street Sense by a head. An especially good win when you consider that he tripped and almost nosed the ground out of the gate. Two valuable seconds were lost right there: a bad break like that is usually a predictor of defeat.
I'm certain that the new object of my infatuation will win the Belmont Stakes, that he'll relish that extra ¼ mile of the race. And that's great—but look out. Bigger things are coming for Curlin, and soon. If he doesn't show up at Saratoga in August to face-off with Street Sense in the Travers, I'll be devastated. But either way—he's going to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in October. Then look out, Sheikh Mo—Curlin can mop up the field in Dubai next March.
I think that Curlin is an uberhorse, a superhero. Had Barbaro lived, the world could have seen two superhorses battling it out all over the country.
So here's an idea. If you're reading this and you happen to own Curlin, please listen up. If you know one of his owners, please tap them on the shoulder and tell them that the Sport needs—actually needs—to see him raced for as long as his body and soul want to do it.
And that, to make the scenario even more tasty—the public deserves to see a rivalry, like that of Alydar and Affirmed, played out at racetracks all across the country. It's a "damned shame," as my Grannie would say, that it's been 30 years since we've seen two horses like Alydar and Affirmed, who met each other time and again, trading wins. Staring each other in the eye, they knew that their nemesis was present, and aimed the bullet at each other.
(Affluent, a daughter of Affirmed, always came in second to Azeri. That's actually the real last time the Sport has experienced such a rivalry. Of course, being "just fillies," they didn't get the press that they should have, which enrages me. Another "View" for another time.) (I like Affluent, a lot: she was born on my birthday. But, hey, Azeri's My Girl!)
Administrators are always trying to figure out how to get more people to the races. Well, we know the most-sure way: women and girls must be courted. But the Other Sure Thing? Inspire owners like those of the mighty Curlin and Street Sense to not avoid each other in the races! Get those two bad boys out there on the track, several times, duking it out. Alydar/Affirmed. Affirmed/Alydar. Curlin/Street Sense. Street Sense/Curlin.
The way to get fans to the track and keep them there is to play to their—to our—sense of loyalty. Curlin fans, like me, will line up like teenage girls at a Beatles concert, to see our boy kick mud in Street Sense's face. Street Sense's loyal lovers will be there hoping to see Street Sense run amok over Curlin's ego.
Either way, whomever wins—we all win. Please.
Owners: take my advice—feed our dreams, of another world-class Thoroughbred rivalry.
Racetrack administrators: The loyalty programs you need don't regard plastic cards and betting vouchers: the real loyalty program that will keep this Sport alive involves two big, strong, handsome horses, Curlin and Street Sense, facing off at your venue.
And you owners--Don't avoid the other guy's horse in a race. For God's Sake, face him head-on.
I know that Curlin will continue to win the day, but, hey—you Street Sense people might just get lucky…once. |
