Trainer Steve Asmussen's Curlin was unraced at two and has only made two starts so far. Won a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in early February by 12 3/4 lengths. In his next start, won the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park by 5 1/4 lengths. Thoroughly outclassed the field, which included Teuflesberg, the Southwest Stakes winner.
Drew away from the field down the stretch in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 14 and won by a record 10 1/2 lengths, establishing himself as the possible favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
Curlin's post position is 2.
Curlin placed 3rd in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and is expected to run in the 2007 Preakness Stakes on May 19th.
Curlin may be trying to break a long-standing truth—no horse without any two-year-old starts has won the Kentucky Derby since Apollo in 1882.
With graded stakes earnings of $780,000, Curlin is fourth on the graded earnings list for Derby contenders. The 20-horse field for the Derby is determined by graded stakes earnings if more than 20 horses are entered.