Friday and Saturday sees the running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship meeting at Santa Anita.
One stallion who has already enjoyed plenty of success in the Breeders Cup, and who looks poised for more success this year is Curlin (Smart Strike).
Himself winner of the 2007 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and fourth in the following year’s Classic, Curlin reached new heights at the Breeders’ Cup in 2022.
Curlin – Smart Strike ex Sherriff’s Deputy by Deputy Minister
Not only did the chestnut’s sons Cody’s Wish and Elite Power win the 2022 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint respectively, Curlin’s champion daughter Malathaat won the Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Distaff was a true triumph for Curlin, whose daughters Malathaat, Clairiere and Nest finished first, third and fourth respectively.
To date, Curlin has been responsible for five Breeders’ Cup winners -Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, Good Magic, Malathaat, and Vino Rosso.
The dual US Horse Of The Year could well add to his tally in 2023, with Curlin well represented at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championship meeting. His Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winning son Bright Future lines up in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race his sire has already plenty of success in.
Multiple Gr1 winners Clairiere and Idiomatic will bid to provide Curlin with a second successive win in the Distaff, while Cody’s Wish and Elite Power will bid to defend their Dirt Mile and Sprint crowns respectively. Bright Future is cross entered in the Dirt Mile-a race for which Curlin grandson Skippylongstocking is also entered for.
Curlin’s Breeders’ Cup winning sons Good Magic and Vino Rosso have made tremendous starts to their respective stud careers and both could well make their presence felt at this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting.
Good Magic, whose first crop was headed by Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is the sire of Gr1 American Pharoah Stakes winner Muth -a strong contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Champion Vino Rosso, currently the fourth leading First-Crop Sire by earnings in North America, looks likely to be represented by his sons The Wine Steward and Wine Me Up in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
This year has been another outstanding one for Curlin, who, at the time of writing, had been responsible for 11 stakes winners in 2023, of which nine are graded stakes winners. The son of Smart Strike’s flagbearers this year include the Gr1 winners Cody’s Wish, Clairiere, Bright Future, Idiomatic, and Elite Power.
- The Santa Anita action starts at 20h30 on Friday evening.
