Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, unbeaten in three starts this season including the Dubai World Cup, will make his turf debut Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’War Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Steve Asmussen announced yesterday after licensing issues involving the 4-year-old colt’s owners were resolved.
Curlin ranks as the top horse in the world after victories that include last year’s Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is trying the turf with the goal of becoming the first U.S.-based horse to win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe run at Longchamps in Paris on Oct. 5.
In the Man o’War, Curlin will face two previous winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Better Talk Now and Red Rocks.
“We don’t want to kid ourselves about his turf form,” Asmussen said. “If he is of the caliber to run in the Arc, (the Man o’War) should give us that measure.”
