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{{Short description|American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse
{{for|the surname|Curlin (surname)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Curlin
| image = [[File:BreedersCupClassic2007-CurlinPaddock.jpg|220px]]
| caption = Curlin at the Breeders' Cup Classic
| sire = [[Smart Strike]]
| grandsire = [[Mr. Prospector]]
| dam = Sherriff's Deputy
| damsire = [[Deputy Minister (horse)|Deputy Minister]]
| sex =
| foaled = {{Birth date and age|2004|3|25}}
| country =
| colour = [[Chestnut (coat)|Chestnut]]
| owner = Racing partnership:<br />[[Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Jr.|Stonestreet Stables]] &<br />Midnight Cry Stables
| trainer = 1) [[Helen Pitts-Blasi|Helen Pitts]]<br />2) [[Steve Asmussen]]
| record = 16: 11–2–2
|
| race = [[Rebel Stakes]] (2007)<br />[[Arkansas Derby]] (2007) <br /> [[Jockey Club Gold Cup]] (2007 & 2008)<br />Jaguar Trophy Handicap (2008) <br />[[Dubai World Cup]] (2008)<br />[[Stephen Foster Handicap]] (2008)<br />[[Woodward Stakes]] (2008)
<br />
'''[[American Classic Races|American Classics]] / [[Breeders' Cup]] wins:'''<br />'''[[Preakness Stakes]]''' ([[2007 Preakness Stakes|2007]])<br />[[Breeders' Cup Classic]] (2007)
|
[[American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse|American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse]] (2007)<br />
[[World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings|Co-World Champion 3-Yr-Old]] (2007)<br />
[[American Champion Older Male Horse]] (2008)<br />
[[American Horse of the Year]] (2007, 2008)<br />
[[World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings|IFHA Worlds Best Racehorse]] (2008)<br />
[[Timeform|Timeform rating]]: 134
| honours = [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|United States Racing Hall of Fame]] (2014)<br />Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course (2009– )
<br />[[Curlin Handicap]] at [[Meydan Racecourse]]
| updated=21 July 2023
}}
'''Curlin''' (foaled March 25, 2004, in [[Kentucky]]) is an American [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|racehorse]] who was the [[American Horse of the Year]] in both 2007 and 2008. He retired in 2008 as the highest North American money earner with over US$10.5 million accumulated. His major racing wins included the [[2007 Preakness Stakes]], 2007 [[Breeders' Cup Classic]], and 2008 [[Dubai World Cup]]. In August 2008, ''[[Timeform]]'' assigned a 134 rating for Curlin, calling him the best horse in the world on dirt. Curlin was elected to the [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame]] in 2014, his first year of eligibility.
Since retired to stud, Curlin has emerged as a major sire whose offspring include [[Palace Malice]], [[Keen Ice]], [[Exaggerator]], [[Good Magic]], [[Stellar Wind (horse)|Stellar Wind]], [[Vino Rosso]], [[Clairiere]], [[Malathaat]], [[Nest (horse)|Nest]], [[Cody's Wish]], [[Elite Power]] (Colt) and [[Idiomatic (horse)|Idiomatic]] (Filly).
==Background==
Curlin was sired by [[Smart Strike]], a former star from the [[Sam-Son Farm]] racing team in [[Ontario]], Canada. Smart Strike is a half-brother of 1991 [[Canadian Classic Races|Canadian Triple Crown]] winner [[Dance Smartly]]. He is out of the mare Sherriff's Deputy, a daughter of [[Canadian Horse of the Year]] and two-time [[Leading sire in North America|North American Champion sire]] [[Deputy Minister (horse)|Deputy Minister]].
The colt was named for Charles Curlin, an enslaved African American from western [[Kentucky]] who fought for the [[Union Army]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=DB8CFB92-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A |title=U.S. Soldiers and Sailors Database |work=NPS.gov |access-date=2018-07-24}}</ref> in the [[American Civil War]]. One of his original owners, Shirley Cunningham, Jr. through his interest in Midnight Cry Stables, is Charles Curlin's great-grandson.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2007/05/01/history-is-no-foe-of-curlin/ |title=History Is No Foe of Curlin |work=New York Post |date=2007-05-01 |access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref>
==Ownership==
Kentucky-based class-action lawyers William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. bought Curlin for $57,000 as a yearling through their Midnight Cry Stable. They sold controlling interest (80%) in the horse in February 2007 for $3.5 million<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=3110160 |title=McPeek sues over Curlin |work=ESPN |date=2007-11-14 |access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref> to a group composed of [[Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Jr.|Jess Jackson]], founder of [[Kendall-Jackson]] wines; Florida software entrepreneur Satish Sanan's Padua Stables; and George Bolton, an investment banker from San Francisco.
In August 2007 (after Curlin's 2007 Preakness win), Gallion and Cunningham were in a [[Boone County, Kentucky]] jail awaiting a federal trial on charges including conspiracy and fraud for allegedly stealing $90 million of a $200 million settlement they obtained for 418 people in a lawsuit against the makers of the diet drug [[fen-phen]]. They were convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 25 and 20 years in prison, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2009/08/18/898627/fen-phen-attorneys-sentenced-to.html |title=Fen-phen attorneys sentenced to decades in prison {{pipe}} Fayette County {{pipe}} Kentucky.com |access-date=August 5, 2012 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010224443/http://www.kentucky.com/2009/08/18/898627/fen-phen-attorneys-sentenced-to.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-01/diet-drug-lawyers-lose-appeal-of-convictions-for-fund-theft-1-.html | work=Bloomberg | title=Diet-Drug Lawyers' Convictions for Fund Theft Upheld}}</ref>
On November 1, 2007, Judge William Wehr ruled the 20% interest in the colt owned by Gallion and Cunningham Jr. would be turned over to the more than 400 persons involved in the fen-phen lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41822 |title=Judge Rules Interest In Curlin Turned Over to Plaintiffs {{!}} bloodhorse.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113004902/http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41822 |archive-date=November 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
On November 6, 2007, Jackson and Bolton confirmed that they bought out the interest in Curlin controlled by their partner Sanan's Padua Stables (29%).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/sales-news/2007/November/06/jess-jackson-buys-curlin.aspx |title=Jackson, Bolton buy out Sanan's interest in Curlin - Thoroughbred Times |access-date=November 14, 2007 |archive-date=November 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111123705/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/sales-news/2007/November/06/jess-jackson-buys-curlin.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On November 9, 2007, trainer [[Kenneth McPeek]], who worked as a blood-stock agent and consultant for Midnight Cry Stable, filed suit in Circuit Court in [[Jefferson County, Kentucky]] alleging that the stable breached a contract calling for him to be paid a 5 percent finders fee commission on the purchase and selling price of Curlin and other racehorses, as well as other breeding rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071113/NEWS01/711130402/1008/NEWS01|title=Trainer sues jailed owners of Curlin over fee deal<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Courier-journal.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
On December 20, 2007, Stonestreet announced the private purchase of George Bolton's 20% stake in Curlin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thoroughbredblog.com/2007/12/more-curlin-ownership-changes.html|title=Curb My Enthusiasm: Even More Curlin Ownership Changes: Jackson Buys-Out Bolton<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Thoroughbredblog.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> The sale leaves Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson and his wife, Barbara Banke, as co-owners of 80% of Curlin and the balance held by Midnight Cry Stables, which was tied up in a legal battle involving 418 people suing the horse's original owners over a legal settlement.
On January 22, 2008, Senior Judge Roger Crittenden in a one-sentence statement overruled the foreclosure motion filed by the plaintiffs against their former attorneys for alleged mishandling their settlement in the fen-phen lawsuit. The Blood Horse magazine further reported that according to attorneys representing Stonestreet Stable, they have "a first-right-of-refusal clause incorporated into the original sales agreement with Midnight Cry", should ever such a motion be ordered.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43285 |title=Curlin Foreclosure Motion Denied {{!}} bloodhorse.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=January 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124071805/http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43285 |archive-date=January 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In May 2015, a 20% share of Curlin was auctioned off for over $6 million. This was the share that had belonged to Cunningham and Gallion, which was seized to help cover the restitution they owed their former clients. The buyer was [[Hill 'n' Dale Farms|Hill 'n' Dale]] Equine Holdings Inc. and Elevage II.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Angst|first1=Frank|title=One-Fifth Curlin Share Surpasses $6 Million|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/106125/one-fifth-curlin-share-surpasses-6-million|website=BloodHorse.com|access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>
==Racing career==
=== 2007: 3-year-old season ===
Curlin was conditioned for racing by [[Helen Pitts-Blasi|Helen Pitts]]. Unraced at age two, in February 2007 he won a seven-[[furlong]] maiden race for three-year-olds by {{frac|12|3|4}} lengths at [[Gulfstream Park]] in Florida, after which he was purchased by a racing partnership headed by majority shareholder Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Farm. The partnership also included Padua Stables, George Bolton, and Midnight Cry Stables, Curlin's original owner. The new owners turned the colt over to trainer [[Steve Asmussen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=37483|title=Impressive 3-Year-Old Winner Curlin Sold|website=Bloodhorse.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> Curlin went on to race at [[Oaklawn Park Race Track|Oaklawn Park]] in [[Arkansas]] where in March, jockey [[Robby Albarado]] rode him to victory in the [[Rebel Stakes]], and, in mid April, in the [[Arkansas Derby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=38489|title=Curlin Has Asmussen Dreaming of Derby Once More |website=Bloodhorse.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:BreedersCupClassic2007-CurlinFirstTurn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The first turn in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic.]]
Curlin was established as the morning-line favorite by [[Churchill Downs]] official handicapper Mike Battaglia at 7–2 in spite of the fact that no horse had won the Derby with only three prior starts since 1915 ([[Regret (horse)|Regret]]), and no horse had won with no two-year-old preps since 1882.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38745|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524192245/http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38745|url-status=dead|title=Curlin Moderate Morning Line Favorite for Kentucky Derby {{pipe}} bloodhorse.com<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=May 24, 2007|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> He was the second betting choice when the race went off. Breaking from post 2 in a full field of 20, Curlin finished 3rd to [[Street Sense (horse)|Street Sense]] and [[Hard Spun]]. In the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, Curlin stumbled out of the gate and raced by the stands the first time in sixth, well off a hot early pace. As the leaders began to tire, he made a bold run on the far turn and entered the stretch four wide, opening the door for Street Sense to sneak by to his inside. With one furlong to go, Street Sense opened a length and a half lead. However, Curlin rallied to beat the Kentucky Derby winner in the final stride. His final time of 1:53.46, at the time, tied the track record set by [[Tank's Prospect]] in 1985, [[Louis Quatorze (horse)|Louis Quatorze]] in 1996, and unofficially [[Secretariat (horse)|Secretariat]] in 1973 (Secretariat's time was later officially determined to be 1:53.00).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drf.com/preakness|title=Preakness Stakes 2021 {{pipe}} Daily Racing Form|website=Drf.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> Curlin was the even-money favorite in the [[Belmont Stakes]]. He engaged the champion [[filly]] [[Rags to Riches (horse)|Rags to Riches]] in a lengthy stretch duel and lost by a head. Rags to Riches was the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in over a century.
Curlin was sent off as the favorite in the $1 million [[Haskell Invitational Handicap|Haskell Invitational]] at [[Monmouth Park Racetrack|Monmouth Park]] on August 5, 2007, and placed 3rd behind [[Any Given Saturday]] and [[Hard Spun]], paying $2.10 to show on a fast track. The winning time was 1:48:35. Ridden by [[Robby Albarado]], on September 30, he beat [[Lawyer Ron]] by a neck in a stretch duel in the [[graded stakes race|Grade I]] [[Jockey Club Gold Cup]] at [[Belmont Park]] in a time of 2:01:20 with a Beyer rating of 114. As the Gold Cup is a [[Breeders' Cup Challenge]] race, the win earned him an automatic berth into the [[Breeders' Cup|Breeders Cup Classic]].
[[File:Curlin Breeders Cup 2007.jpg|thumb|Curlin at the 2007 Breeders Cup]]
On October 27, 2007, Curlin went off as the 4th betting choice in the [[Breeders' Cup Classic]] held at [[Monmouth Park Racetrack]] in [[Oceanport, New Jersey]]. The condition was listed as sloppy on the main track after several days of rain. Emerging from about midpack in the field of nine, Curlin overtook pace setter Hard Spun at the top of the stretch and drew away to win the 24th running of the Classic by {{frac|4|3|4}} lengths over [[Hard Spun]]. The race was the eighth time that a 3-year-old took the Classic. Curlin covered the 1{{fraction|1|4}} mile distance in 2:00.59, which is considered a fast time on a sloppy track, earning a Beyer rating of 119. By comparison, the Monmouth track record is 2:00.40 set in 1962 by [[Carry Back]].<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/10/27/bc.rac.breeders.cup.ap/index.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030062355/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/10/27/bc.rac.breeders.cup.ap/index.html|date=October 30, 2007}}</ref>
After his three-year-old campaign, Curlin was honored as the 2007 [[American Horse of the Year|Horse of the Year]] as well as Three Year Old of the Year, defeating rivals Street Sense and Hard Spun.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2008/January/21/2008-horse-of-the-year-curlin.aspx |title=Horse of the Year Curlin stars at Eclipse Awards - Thoroughbred Times |access-date=January 22, 2008 |archive-date=January 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124082747/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2008/January/21/2008-horse-of-the-year-curlin.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Curlin repeated as the [[Eclipse Award]] [[American Horse of the Year]] for 2008, becoming only the fifth horse to do so and putting him in the company of the likes of Secretariat and Forego. He also was named the [[American Champion Older Male Horse]] for 2008.
===2008: 4-year-old season===
Curlin began his four-year-old campaign in [[Dubai]] at the [[Nad Al Sheba Racecourse]], running in the Jaguar Trophy Handicap as preparation for the Group I [[Dubai World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43486|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206133402/http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43486|url-status=dead|title=Curlin Going to Dubai World Cup {{pipe}} bloodhorse.com<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=February 6, 2008|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> He defeated a field of five by 2 {{fraction|1|4}} lengths under a hand ride in 2:00.60<ref>[https://archive.today/20120719090747/http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43838 Curlin Romps in Dubai | bloodhorse.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emiratesracing.com/eq/TrackRecords.cfm?track=NAD&breed=TB|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515195343/http://www.emiratesracing.com/eq/TrackRecords.cfm?track=NAD&breed=TB|url-status=dead|title=Emirates Racing Authority :: Track Records<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=May 15, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
Curlin was sent out as the odds-on favorite for the Dubai World Cup. Drawing post 12, he ran three-wide outside of the leaders for the majority of the race before clearing the field when they reached the straight, winning by 7{{fraction|3|4}} lengths. He also became the only horse in Dubai World Cup history to win from the 12th post position.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2008/March/29/Curlin-wins-Dubai-World-Cup.aspx |title=Curlin crushes competition on global stage in World Cup - Thoroughbred Times |access-date=May 23, 2008 |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704072422/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2008/March/29/Curlin-wins-Dubai-World-Cup.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> His official winning time was initially listed by the Dubai Racing Commission as 2:00.15, which would have been the third fastest in the race's history behind [[Dubai Millennium]] and [[Invasor (horse)|Invasor]]. However, that time has since been removed after an investigation by the DRC sparked by reports by ''[[Racing Post|The Racing Post]]'' that their timing experts showed multiple races on the card – including Curlin in DWC – as being slower than officially reported.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2008/April/03/Time-discrepancies-reported-on-Dubai-World-Cup-card.aspx |title=Time discrepancies reported on Dubai World Cup card - Thoroughbred Times |access-date=April 5, 2008 |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407194103/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2008/April/03/Time-discrepancies-reported-on-Dubai-World-Cup-card.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Racing Post claims that five of the six Thoroughbred races, the Godolphin Mile being the exception, went a full second slower than the official timings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/info/siteindex|title=Site Index|website=CBSSports.com|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Curlin on his way to the post in the 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (2972941426).jpg|right|thumb|Curlin in 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap]]
On June 14, 2008, Curlin won his third start of the year, the [[Stephen Foster Handicap]] at Churchill Downs. He won by 4{{fraction|1|4}} lengths carrying 128 pounds (10 pounds more than the next highest weighted horse).
On July 12, 2008, Curlin finished second, two lengths behind [[Red Rocks (horse)|Red Rocks]] in the [[Graded stakes race|Grade I]] $500,000 [[Man o' War Stakes]] at Belmont Park. The turf race, with a field of seven, was run over the distance of 1{{fraction|3|8}} miles. Curlin carried 116 lbs, as did Red Rocks, while 3rd place runner [[Better Talk Now]], a previous Breeders' Cup Turf winner, toted 120 lbs. Curlin was sent off in this maiden turf run by punters as the odds-on 2–5 favorite and a crowd of 8,428 was on hand to watch the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=33579|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715230337/http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=33579|url-status=dead|title=Curlin's turf experiment hits 'Rocks' – NTRA<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=July 15, 2008|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> On August 30, Curlin won the [[Woodward Stakes]] at Saratoga by one and a quarter lengths.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pedulla |first=Tom |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-08-30-curlin-saratoga_N.htm |title=Curlin prevails at the 'Graveyard of favorites' |newspaper=USA Today |date=2008-08-31 |access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref> However, after fast early fractions for the first mile, the final eighth of the race was run in a slower 14.01 seconds. On September 27, 2008, Curlin sent off as the 2–5 favorite and won his second consecutive [[Jockey Club Gold Cup]], in a hand ride by three-quarters of a length over Wanderin Boy, earning a Beyer Speed figure of 111. The track was sealed and the final time was 2:01.93 was over a sloppy track.<ref name="racing.bloodhorse.com">{{cite web |url=http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/47285.htm |title=Thoroughbred Racing {{pipe}} BloodHorse.com |publisher=Racing.bloodhorse.com |date=2010-10-18 |access-date=2010-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930005516/http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/47285.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
The victory vaulted him past [[Cigar (horse)|Cigar]] to become the No. 1 all-time North American money earner as defined as having at least one North American start. Curlin is the first North American runner to have earned over US$10 million.<ref name="racing.bloodhorse.com"/> Curlin finished fourth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic. Previously, trainer Steve Asmussen had expressed concern about running him in the Classic because of the [[Synthetic racetrack surfaces for horse racing|Pro-Ride synthetic dirt]] at the 2008 host track, [[Santa Anita Park]]. Jockey [[Robby Albarado]] made what BreedersCup.com announcers described as an "early" move from near the back of the pack. Curlin blew by the frontrunners at the far turn but was overtaken in the stretch by eventual winner [[Raven's Pass]], second-place finisher [[Henrythenavigator]], and the late-charging [[Tiago (horse)|Tiago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/47535/curlin-to-defend-breeders-cup-title |title=Curlin to Defend Breeders' Cup Title |publisher=BloodHorse.com |access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref>
On November 21, Curlin's owners announced that he would begin his stud career in 2009 at [[Lane's End Farm|Lane's End]] in Versailles, Kentucky, for an initial fee of $75,000. Curlin was retired and paraded at [[Churchill Downs]] on November 29, 2008.
On January 26, 2009, Curlin won the Eclipse Award for older male horse of the year and for the second year in a row was named Horse of the Year. He joined Secretariat, Forego, Affirmed and Cigar as the only horses to win the award consecutively since the Eclipse Awards began in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wincze |first=Alicia |url=http://www.kentucky.com/302/story/672825.html |title=Curlin repeats as racing's Horse of the Year |publisher=Kentucky.com |date=2009-01-27 |access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref>
==Racing statistics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date
!Race
!Racecourse
!Grade
!Distance
!Finish
!Margin
!Time
!Weight
!Odds
!Jockey
!Ref
|-
|Feb 3, 2007
|Maiden
|[[Gulfstream Park]]
|
|7 Furlongs
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|12|3|4}} lengths
|1:22.25
|122 lbs
|2.00*
|[[Rafael Bejarano]]
|
|-
|Mar 17, 2007
|[[Rebel Stakes]]
|[[Oaklawn Park]]
|<nowiki>||</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|16}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|5|1|4}} lengths
|1:44.70
|117 lbs
|2.70
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Apr 14, 2007
|[[Arkansas Derby]]
|[[Oaklawn Park]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|8}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|10|1|2}} lengths
|1:50.09
|122 lbs
|0.80*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|May 5, 2007
|[[Kentucky Derby]]
|[[Churchill Downs]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|3
|(8 lengths)
|2:02.17
|126 lbs
|5.00
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|May 19, 2007
|[[Preakness Stakes]]
|[[Pimlico Race Course]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|3|16}} miles
|1
|head
|1:53.46
|126 lbs
|3.40
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Jun 9, 2007
|[[Belmont Stakes]]
|[[Belmont Park]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|2}} miles
|2
|(head)
|2:28.74
|126 lbs
|1.10*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Aug 5, 2007
|[[Haskell Invitational Stakes]]
|[[Monmouth Park Racetrack]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|8}} miles
|3
|({{frac|4|3|4}} lengths)
|1:48.32
|122 lbs
|0.90*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Sep 30, 2007
|[[Jockey Club Gold Cup]]
|[[Belmont Park]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|1
|neck
|2:01.20
|122 lbs
|2.10
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Oct 27, 2007
|[[Breeders' Cup Classic]]
|[[Monmouth Park Racetrack]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|4|1|2}} lengths
|2:00.59
|121 lbs
|4.40
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Feb 28, 2008
|Jaguar Trophy Handicap
|[[Nad Al Sheba Racecourse]]
|<nowiki>||</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|2|1|4}} lengths
|2:00.60
|132 lbs
|3/10*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Mar 29, 2008
|[[Dubai World Cup]]
|[[Nad Al Sheba Racecourse]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|7|3|4}} lengths
|2:01.15
|126 lbs
|4/11*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Jun 14, 2008
|[[Stephen Foster Handicap]]
|[[Churchill Downs]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|8}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|4|1|4}} lengths
|1:49.68
|128 lbs
|0.40*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Jul 12, 2008
|[[Man o' War Stakes]]
|[[Belmont Park]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|3|8}} miles
|2
|(2 lengths)
|2:12.60
|116 lbs
|0.45*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Aug 30, 2008
|[[Woodward Stakes]]
|[[Saratoga Race Course]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|8}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} lengths
|1:49.34
|126 lbs
|0.35*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Sep 27, 2008
|[[Jockey Club Gold Cup]]
|[[Belmont Park]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|1
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac||3|4}} length
|2:01.93
|126 lbs
|0.40*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|-
|Oct 25, 2008
|[[Breeders' Cup Classic]]
|[[Santa Anita Park|Santa Anita]]
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|1|1|4}} miles
|4
|{{ntsh|1.5}}{{frac|2|3|4}} length
|1:59.27
|126 lbs
|0.90*
|[[Robby Albarado]]
|
|}
==Stud career==
Curlin covered 131 mares in the 2009 breeding season. The first foal by Curlin, a filly out of Zophie (Hawkster), was born on January 12, 2010. She was euthanized on January 29 after a paddock accident.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shandler |first=Jason |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55288/first-foal-by-curlin-dies |title=First Foal by Curlin Dies |publisher=BloodHorse.com |access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref> Among other mares, Curlin was bred to the 2009 American Horse of the Year, [[Rachel Alexandra]]. During the broadcast of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, it was announced that Rachel Alexandra was expecting a foal, due around February 2012. A bay colt later named Jess's Dream was born on January 22, 2012, and won his first race on August 24, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jess's Dream Wins Long-Awaited Debut|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/197135/jesss-dream-wins-long-awaited-debut|website=BloodHorse.com|access-date=2 June 2016}}</ref>
Curlin was the leading third crop sire in North America in 2014. On September 2, 2015, Stonestreet Farm announced that Curlin would stand the 2016 breeding season at Hill 'n' Dale Farm. Though his offspring tend to be somewhat slow to mature, Curlin is now regarded as a source of classic stamina.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Russo|first1=Nicole|title=Exaggerator continues remarkable run for sire Curlin|url=http://www.drf.com/news/exaggerator-continues-remarkable-run-sire-curlin|website=Daily Racing Form|access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, Curlin finished second on the North American general sire list. His [[stud fee]] for 2017 was increased to $150,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=General Sire Lists|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/thoroughbred-breeding/sire-lists/general|website=Bloodhorse.com|access-date=6 January 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Curlin Christina Xalapa.png|thumb|Curlin and his groom, Christina Zurick, at Hill N' Dale at Xalapa in 2020.]]
In 2022 Curlin's fee at Hill 'n' Dale Farm was $175,000.<ref name=BH_Suncoast>{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Byron |last2=Rollins |first2=Molly |title=Nest Outclasses Rivals in Suncoast Romp; Earlier on the card, Bank on Shea upset Baby Yoda in the Pelican Stakes.|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/256757/nest-outclasses-rivals-in-suncoast-romp |website=bloodhorse.com |access-date=24 July 2022 |date=12 February 2022}}</ref> He was the leading sire at the [[2022 Breeders' Cup]] with three winners on the Saturday card: [[Malathaat]] in the Distaff, [[Cody's Wish]] in the Dirt Mile and Elite Power in the Sprint.<ref>{{cite web |title=Curlin is leading Breeders' Cup sire with three winners |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/264611/curlin-is-leading-breeders-cup-sire-with-three-winners |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=13 November 2022}}</ref> At the end of that year, [[Malathaat]] would win the champion older dirt female [[Eclipse Award|Eclipse award]] for her 2022 campaign, Elite Power won champion sprinter for winning 5 out of 6, and multiple grade 1 winner Nest, who also finished second in the Belmont Stakes, would win the Champion 3-year-old-filly [[Eclipse Award|Eclipse award]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/266342/curlin-makes-history-with-three-same-year-champions |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}</ref> He has the distinction of being the first sire in the 52 years of the Eclipse awards to be represented by three different champions. His 2023 stud fee increased to $225,000<ref>{{Cite web |last=TDN |first=The |date=2022-10-19 |title=Hill 'n' Dale's Curlin Leads '23 Roster with Increase to 225K |url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/hill-n-dales-curlin-leads-23-roster-with-increase-to-225k/#:~:text=Hill%20'n'%20Dale%20Farms%20announced,Again)%20remains%20unchanged%20at%20$75,000. |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=TDN {{!}} Thoroughbred Daily News {{!}} Horse Racing News, Results and Video {{!}} Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions |language=en}}</ref> after the Breeder's Cup and Eclipse award success. After the 2023 Breeder's Cup results where [[Idiomatic (horse)|Idiomatic]], [[Cody's Wish]], and Elite Power would win their respective races, his 2024 stud fee would jump to $250,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/272564/curlins-2024-fee-rises-to-250-000 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}</ref>
His biggest stamp as a sire of runners was to come at the end of the racing season in 2023, where three of his offspring would win individual [[Eclipse Award]]s, making him the first sire to achieve that fete, as well. His 2025 stud fee has been announced at $225,000<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/280416/hill-n-dale-announces-25-stud-fees-curlin-leads-way |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}</ref> for the 20 year old stallion.
He has 20 sons standing at stud, with [[Good Magic]] having the best success so far with two 3-year-old G1 "Classic" winners in Mage ([[Kentucky Derby]]) and Dornoch ([[Belmont Stakes|Belmont]]), who happen to be full brothers. He also has G1 winners Mixto, Muth, and Blazing Sevens. His son, [[Keen Ice]], sired the shocking winner of the [[2022 Kentucky Derby]], [[Rich Strike]].
===Notable progeny===
Curlin has produced 25 separate North American [[Graded stakes race|Grade 1]] winners as of 10/2024:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/stallions/127542/curlin|title=Curlin on Stallion Register Online|website=Stallion Register Online|access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref>
'c = [[colt (horse)|colt]], f = [[filly]]'', g = [[gelding]]''
{| border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| width="35px" | '''Foaled'''
| width="120px" | '''Name'''
| width="35px" | '''Sex'''
| width="510px" | '''Major Wins'''
|-
|2010
|[[Palace Malice]]
|c
|[[2013 Belmont Stakes|Belmont Stakes]], [[Metropolitan Handicap]]
|-
|2012
|[[Curalina]]
|f
|[[Acorn Stakes]], [[Coaching Club American Oaks]], [[La Troienne Stakes]]
|-
|2012
|[[Keen Ice]]
|c
|[[Travers Stakes]]
|-
|2013
|[[Connect (horse)|Connect]]
|c
|[[Cigar Mile Handicap|Cigar Mile]]
|-
|2013
|[[Exaggerator]]
|c
|[[2016 Preakness Stakes|Preakness Stakes]], [[Santa Anita Derby]], [[Haskell Invitational]]
|-
|2013
|Off the Tracks
|f
|[[Mother Goose Stakes]]
|-
|2015
|[[Good Magic]]
|c
|[[Breeders' Cup Juvenile]], [[Haskell Invitational]]
|-
|2015
|[[Stellar Wind (horse)|Stellar Wind]]
|f
|[[Santa Anita Oaks]], [[Clement L. Hirsch Stakes]] (2016, 2017), [[Zenyatta Stakes]], [[Apple Blossom Handicap]], [[Beholder Mile Stakes|Beholder Mile]]
|-
|2015
|[[Vino Rosso]]
|c
| [[Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes|Gold Cup at Santa Anita]], [[Breeders' Cup Classic]]
|-
|2016
|Global Campaign
|c
|[[Woodward Stakes]]
|-
|2017
|Idol
|c
|[[Santa Anita Handicap]]
|-
|2017
|Paris Lights
|f
|[[Coaching Club American Oaks]]
|-
|2017
|Awakened
|g
|[[Jonathan Sheppard Stakes]] ([[Steeplechase (horse racing)|Steeplechase]])
|-
|2018
|[[Clairiere]]
|f
|[[Cotillion Stakes]], [[Ogden Phipps Stakes]] (2022, 2023), [[Apple Blossom Handicap]]
|-
|2018
|[[Cody's Wish]]
|c
|[[Forego Stakes]], [[Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile]] (2022, 2023), [[Churchill Downs Stakes]], [[Metropolitan Handicap]]
|-
|2018
|Elite Power
|c
| [[Breeders' Cup Sprint]] (2022,2023), [[Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap]]
|-
|2018
|[[Known Agenda]]
|c
|[[Florida Derby]]
|-
|2018
|[[Malathaat]]
|f
|[[Ashland Stakes]], [[Kentucky Oaks]], [[Alabama Stakes]], [[Personal Ensign Stakes]], [[Spinster Stakes]], [[Breeders' Cup Distaff]]
|-
|2018
|Obligatory
|f
|[[Derby City Distaff Stakes]]
|-
|2019
|Bright Future
|c
|[[Jockey Club Gold Cup]]
|-
|2019
|Grace Adler
|f
|[[Del Mar Debutante Stakes]]
|-
|2019
|[[Idiomatic (horse)|Idiomatic]]
|f
|[[Personal Ensign Stakes]], [[Breeders' Cup Distaff]], [[La Troienne Stakes]], [[Spinster Stakes]] (2023 & 2024)
|-
|2019
|[[Nest (horse)|Nest]]
|f
|[[Ashland Stakes]], [[Coaching Club American Oaks]], [[Alabama Stakes]]
|-
|2020
|Raging Sea
|f
|[[Personal Ensign Stakes]], [[La Troienne Stakes]]
|-
|2020
|Highland Falls
|c
|[[Jockey Club Gold Cup]]
|-
|2022
|[[Journalism (horse)|Journalism]]
|c
|[[Santa Anita Derby]]
|}
Curlin also sired champion filly [[Rachel Alexandra]]'s only son, Jess's Dream, (aka Taco) who won a stunning maiden victory at Saratoga before being retired due to injury to stand at stud in [[Ocala]], Florida. He sired his first graded stakes winner when his colt Chess's Dream won the Grade 3 [[Kitten's Joy Stakes]] in January 2021. He also produced stakes winners Intrepid Daydream, Dreaming of Snow, Sweet Dani Girl, Chacalosa, Intrepid Dream and Beth's Dream. Jess's Dream was retired from stud in Florida at the end of 2023, was gelded, and was being trained to be a track "pony" for Stonestreet, when he developed unrelated laminitis and was humanely euthanized in early 2024.
==Pedigree==
{{Pedigree
|name = Curlin
|f = [[Smart Strike]]
bay 1992
|m = Sherriff's Deputy
bay 1994
|ff = [[Mr. Prospector]]
bay 1970
|fm = [[Classy 'n Smart]]
bay 1981
|mf = [[Deputy Minister (horse)|Deputy Minister]]
bay 1979
|mm = Barbarika
bay 1985
|fff = [[Raise A Native]]<br />chestnut 1961
|ffm = [[Gold Digger (horse)|Gold Digger]]<br />bay 1962
|fmf = [[Smarten]]<br />bay 1976
|fmm = No Class<br />bay 1974
|mff = [[Vice Regent]]<br />chestnut 1967
|mfm = Mint Copy<br />dark brown 1970
|mmf = [[Bates Motel (horse)|Bates Motel]]<br />bay 1979
|mmm = War Exchange<br />gray 1972
|ffff = [[Native Dancer]]
|fffm = Raise You
|ffmf = [[Nashua (horse)|Nashua]]
|ffmm = Sequence
|fmff = [[Cyane (horse)|Cyane]]
|fmfm = Smartaire
|fmmf = [[Nodouble]]
|fmmm = Classy Quillo
|mfff = [[Northern Dancer]]
|mffm = Victoria Regina
|mfmf = Bunty's Flight
|mfmm = Shakner
|mmff = [[Sir Ivor]]
|mmfm = Sunday Purchase
|mmmf = Wise Exchange
|mmmm = Jungle War
|}}
==See also==
*[[List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses]]
*[[List of racehorses]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/curlin Curlin's pedigree and racing stats]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090526075636/http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=30510 January 21, 2008 NTRA article with video titled ''Curlin wins top 3-year-old, Horse of the Year'']
{{Preakness Stakes Winners}}
{{Breeders' Cup Classic Winners}}
{{American Horse of the Year winners}}
[[Category:2004 racehorse births]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in the United States]]
[[Category:Preakness Stakes winners]]
[[Category:Breeders' Cup Classic winners]]
[[Category:Dubai World Cup winners]]
[[Category:American Grade 1 Stakes winners]]
[[Category:American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year]]
[[Category:Eclipse Award winners]]
[[Category:United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 19-c]]
[[Category:United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires]]
| |||