Say Goodbye to Curlin... and Hello to Old Fashioned

by Patricia Woo | Dec 3 2008

The racing world bids Curlin a fond farewell and casts a fresh eye towards Kentucky Derby prospect and recent Remsen Stakes winner Old Fashioned.

On Saturday, Nov. 29, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin took his final bow at Churchill Downs to close out his amazing racing career. After thrilling horse racing fans for two years, the 4-year-old Smart Strike colt was honored in a retirement ceremony before departing on Sunday for Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Ky, where he will stand stud next year for $75,000.

Curlin's transition to retirement is bittersweet for Steve Asmussen, who trained the colt for 10 of his 11 career wins. "It’s very emotional," Asmussen said Saturday. "The things he’s done for us... everything he’s accomplished leaves us with a great sense of pride."

Barbara Banke, wife of majority owner Jess Jackson, shared Asmussen's sentiment. "We're so happy to see him retiring sound, 100 percent, not even slightly fazed and so spectacular. He couldn't be in any better health, and Jess is looking forward to seeing a lot of baby Curlins running around."

With Curlin's multiple Grade 1 wins, including the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, two Jockey Club Gold Cup trophies and the $5M Dubai World Cup title, as well as his North American record-holding career earnings of over $10M, horse bettors and racing fans alike will surely be looking forward to future champion racehorses sired by Curlin as well.

In the meantime, however, one needs to look no further for an exciting prospect than the winner of Saturday's $200,000 Gr. 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct: Old Fashioned. This 2-year-old colt by Unbridled's Song had a two-race unbeaten streak going into the 1 1/8 mile Remsen Stakes. Ridden by jockey Ramon Dominguez, Old Fashioned surged to the lead in the early going and scorched his six rivals, which included the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of American Dance and Idol Maker, by 7 1/4 lengths.

Dominguez was impressed with Old Fashioned's effort and effusive about his racing future. "Judging by today, there is no telling how far he can go," Dominguez commented post-race. Trainer Larry Jones agreed, saying: "The horse had a perfect trip." Jones has hinted that he will be pointing Old Fashioned towards the Kentucky Derby trail, and that the colt will be shipped to Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La., in preparation for next year's campaign.

And Old Fashioned has more in his favor than the just the ability to both run down his rivals (as he did in his career debut at Delaware Park) and blow them away with his speed (as he did in his last two outings). He has history on his side, as three of the last four horses that have won the Remsen Stakes have appeared in the Kentucky Derby.

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