Derby News

Curlin looked like a seasoned professional at Oaklawn Park when he captured the $300,000 Rebel (GIII) by a widening 5 ¼-lengths.  He certainly didn't look like he was making just his second lifetime start.

            The 3-year-old son of Smart Strike covered the 1 1/16 mile distance over a "fast" track in 1:44.70.  Ridden by Robby Albarado, Curlin paid $7.40, $4, and $3.40 as the second choice in the field of nine.  Officer Rocket, piloted by Luis Quinonez, passed horses late to finish second and paid $3.80 and $3.20.  Teuflesberg, with Stewart Elliot in the irons, finished third after a tardy start and paid $5.50.  Teuflesberg and Officer Rocket had finished first and second, respectively, in the Southwest prior to their run in the Rebel.

            The early pace was dictated by Xchanger and Flying First Class, the only two sophomores in the field equipped with blinkers.  Xchanger held a clear advantage through six furlongs while cutting out moderate fractions of :23.48 for the first quarter-mile, :47.64 for the first half-mile, and 1:12.51 for six furlongs.  Teuflesberg, Officer Rocket, and Curlin were content to track the early leaders from several lengths back.  Xchanger and Flying First Class relinquished their lead turning for home as Curlin angled four wide coming into the stretch and powered past the field.  Curlin extended his advantage in the stretch under mild urging.  Officer Rocket ran well to finish second and Teuflesberg held on for third.

            Going Ballistic closed from 8^th to finish fourth, followed by U D Ghetto, Wannabeinclued, Xchanger, Flying First Class, and Sumac.  The major disappointment of the race was the performance of Flying First Class who was bet down to be the 9-5 favorite off his dazzling maiden victory last time out that had earned him off-the-charts speed figures.

            Curlin has now stamped himself as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with only two lifetime starts.   His only start coming into the Rebel was a smashing 12 ¾-length victory in his debut over maiden rivals at Gulfstream Park on February 3.  After that win he was purchased for over $3 million by Stonestreet Stables and Padua Stables and transferred out of the Helen Pitts barn and into the care of Steve Asmussen.  His win was made all the more impressive considering it was his first start going two-turns; his maiden breaking victory came going just seven furlongs.

            Should Curlin find a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby he will likely do so with the benefit of only three lifetime starts.  The only horse to capture the Kentucky Derby with only three lifetime starts was the filly Regret in 1915.  The most recent to attempt the feat was when Showing Up contested last year's Kentucky Derby and finished a better than expected sixth behind his stablemate Barbaro.

            The top three from the Rebel seem like logical contenders for the Arkansas Derby on April 14 at Oaklawn Park.  That race is run at 1 1/8-miles and carries a lucrative $1 million purse.

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