With the newly risen sun as a backdrop and a nearly full moon still prominent overhead, Horse of the Year Curlin introduced himself on Monday to the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

Putting in one final significant move prior to his next scheduled start in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) on August 30, Curlin sailed through a seven-furlong breeze in 1:24.80 under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas.

The pair stepped on to the track at 6:05 a.m. EDT following a six-minute walk from trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn adjacent to the Oklahoma training track, which is located across Union Avenue.

Curlin and new workmate Hawaii Calls went off together through splits of :24.60, :36.80, :48.80 and 1:00 before Rosas asked Curlin for more at the quarter pole.

The four-year-old Smart Strike colt responded emphatically, pulling away easily and cruising down the stretch clear of jockey Shaun Bridgmohan and Hawaii Calls, who was clocked in 1:25.60.

Curlin galloped out one mile in 1:37.80 under wraps while Hawaii Calls was “all out.”

“He handled the track beautiful,” Rosas said. “I didn’t see anything wrong. I turned him loose a little bit today, and you see what happened. I tell Shaun this morning, ‘You better wear your goggles because at the quarter pole, you’re going to need it.’ That’s just what we did.”

The work was the fifth for Curlin since arriving at Saratoga in mid-July and the only one he will have on the main track. Asmussen had hoped to get that accomplished last week but was stymied by rain.

“The weather was nice, and we got a nice, fast track,” he said. “I thought it very important to get him over there one time before he ran over it.

“I think he handled it well. If he’d have struggled with the racetrack, it would have shown in one form or another, especially cooling out. It definitely seemed like something he could handle, and he did it really well. He galloped out real strong, and came back nice.”

By design, Curlin worked on the inside of Hawaii Calls on Monday, unlike last week’s six-furlong breeze at the Oklahoma.

“It was his tempo, his work. Everything was about him today,” Asmussen said. “Other times, you’re at different stages. I just wanted him to have a serious work and do what Carlos felt like he wanted to do.

“The first time by before he broke off, you could tell he was looking around a little bit, but I think that’s only natural. Once he was into his work, he was very serious and steady and impressive.”

Rosas said he felt Curlin had no trouble adjusting to his new surroundings and the different footing.

“He’s such a professional horse. Nothing bothers him,” he said. “Anywhere you take him, he’ll give you everything he has. He just waits for you to ask him. I thought he was a little aggressive, which is what Steve wanted. I thought he went beautiful.”

Barbara Banke, wife of majority owner Jess Jackson, was on hand for the move along with about a dozen reporters and photographers, who followed Curlin to and from the barn. Another crowd of cameras waited for Curlin at the main track.

“He’s been feeling pretty well,” Asmussen said. “The cooler temperatures in the morning, that’s why we like him up here so much. He’s been feeling very good about himself.”

Asmussen said Curlin’s final move on August 25 will be on the training track, and that he would likely school in the paddock between races this week, possibly on Thursday.

“All his serious preparation is in for the Woodward, and we feel very good about it,” Asmussen said.

Also breezing for Asmussen on Monday were multiple graded stakes winning three-year-olds Pyro and J Be K, who both will be running on Saturday; Pyro in the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles, and J Be K in the $250,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs.

Pyro was second to Macho Again in his Travers prep, the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 27.

“He came off a pretty strong race,” Asmussen said. “Trying to get two good races out of a horse here is sometimes pretty tricky. I think the trip’s going to be the key to the Travers this year, especially for him.”

Pyro was clocked in :52.28 for a half-mile on the training track, with Rosas up.

“He handles this track beautiful,” Rosas said. “To me, he’s training better than he was before the last race. I think he’s going to run big.”

Rosas also breezed J Be K, who went in :50.67 for four furlongs at the Oklahoma track.

“He’s trained really well,” Asmussen said. “I think the King’s Bishop is a good spot for him. He set a track record here last year, and he’s definitely a very nice three-year-old.”
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)