Punters and handicappers hoping to profit from a Curlin vs. Big Brown’s showdown in this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championship on October 24-25 may want to have a number of other Breeders’ Cup selections lined up; as it stands, that momentous fall gathering may not even make it to the gates.
Then again, especially when it comes to horse racing, never say never.
“This type of competition between horses is exactly what thoroughbred racing needs, an event that introduces the excitement and competition of racing to a broader audience,” said Curlin owner Jesse Jackson. “Imagine Curlin Horse of the Year racing against Derby winner Big Brown on a legendary track. I’d love it, the fans would love it and the horses would love it.”
Jackson, however, is referring to the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 30. And to make matters more intriguing, Jackson also mentioned the Jockey Club Gold Cup in Belmont on September 27 as a second possibility. Big Brown owner Michael Iavarone is not interested in entering his horse in any race; what he’s after is the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“Our horse has never been there and we know we have to race there, that’s what the Breeders’ Cup championship is all about,” Iavarone said. “I’m not saying, ‘I was there, I did that,’ but (Curlin) should be in that race.”
With both camps championing the idea of bringing these two formidable competitors together sometime this year, you have to wonder if Curlin and Big Brown were to meet, which horse would win?
four year old vs. Three-year-old: How do these champions compare?
Forget Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow boldly proclaiming his spunky three-year-old is “so much better” than the experienced four-year-old (think of when Dutrow guaranteed a win in the Belmont Stakes); the career and racing record of each horse speaks volumes that they really measure up. Take a look at these numbers:
In his last race, Curlin finished second to Red Rocks in the Man o’War Stakes at Belmont Park where he finished second to Red Rocks. Big Brown’s most recent race was a small win at the Haskell Invitational on August 3 at Monmouth Park.
Looking at the big picture, Curlin’s racing victories include the $6 million Dubai World Cup this year along with the Stephen Foster Handicap and he ranks third on the all-time earnings list in North America with $9,496,800. . Last year, Curlin took the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Jockey Gold Cup, the Preakness Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Rebel Stakes (earning him the 2007 Eclipse Award for American Horse of the Year).
In addition to the Haskell Invitational, this year Big Brown also had a big win in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Florida Derby and has a record six wins in seven races totaling $3,314,500.
Clearly both horses are winners. But in a head-to-head race?
If not the Breeders’ Cup Classic, then what?
In a break with tradition, the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be run on a synthetic surface for the first time in the history of this lucrative event. Synthetic tracks are considered safer (both for horses and riders), but they haven’t been around long enough to produce enough statistics. And that doesn’t bode well for Curlin’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, who feels Curlin’s performance on a dirt track is much better. Dutrow, on the other hand, feels that because Big Brown has done well on turf (and turf horses tend to run a similar race on synthetic tracks) he should be in good shape for the Breeders’ Cup.
In preparation for the Classic, Iavarone said he’s leaning toward a mid-September run for Big Brown.
So…with the Woodward Gold Cup and Jockey Club out of the question (for a match between Curlin and Big Brown), that still leaves the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs on September 20; or the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, a race that isn’t scheduled to end until a full month after the Breeders’ Cup.
That brings us back to the original question: Curlin or Big Brown? What is the best horse? Take your selections to the ticket window. With several big breeds on the calendar for both horses (before the Breeders’ Cup), you have your work cut out for you.