DEL MAR: Curlin remains a possibility for Pacific Classic

By JEFF NAHILL - Staff Writer | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:54 PM PDT ∞

DEL MAR ---- The word spread quickly last weekend when media reports surfaced that 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin was under consideration for the Pacific Classic.

Owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen are keeping their cards close to the vest, but others are talking.

"It's definitely on the table," Mike Orman said Monday. "It's not a complete no or yes, yet."

Orman works for Jackson's Stonestreet Farms in California and is a former trainer at Del Mar.

Curlin won the Dubai World Cup. Jackson set his sights on the grass and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October. As a prep for that, Curlin ran second in the Man o' War at Belmont Park in his first try on grass. However, many observers thought Curlin didn't show the turn of foot he had previously displayed on dirt.

Jackson posted a poll on his Stonestreet Web site asking fans if they wanted Curlin to continue on the grass, go back to the dirt, try a synthetic track in anticipation of the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, or retire. Fans overwhelmingly voted to continue the grass campaign (51 percent), with synthetic receiving little support (10 percent), but that hasn't stopped Jackson.

Curlin is nominated to almost every big race on every surface in America, and evidently the choice is coming down to Del Mar or the Woodward at Saratoga.

"Right now, (Jess) is looking at all of the options," Orman said. "He's going do what's right for the horse. He's looking at (Del Mar) because of the Breeders' Cup (on a synthetic surface). He has so many options. So many people want the horse. It's hard to say what will happen."

Del Mar management is obviously intrigued.

"It would be interesting," said Craig Fravel, the track's executive vice president.

Curlin would be the biggest name to ship to Del Mar since Cigar lost the 1996 Pacific Classic.

"I don't think, right now, Curlin is as popular as Cigar," Fravel said, "because he was going for (Citation's consecutive win) record, but (Curlin) is chasing Cigar's money (earning) record."

Said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's director of racing: "I would love for him to break the record in California on our synthetic (track)."

Although Curlin already has a stud deal in place, a win on a synthetic surface might make him more enticing to horsemen who send their dams to him in the future.

"He's very attractive now," Orman said. "He's run on dirt and grass. He's one of the most amazing horses I've ever seen. He's a real professional."

One fly in the ointment might be that Asmussen already has Student Council, the Pacific Classic's defending champion, set for a return trip to Del Mar.

Student Council is owned by Ro Parra, and Orman said that wouldn't stop Asmussen from entering Curlin, either.

"If Jess says he's going to go to the Pacific Classic, he's going to go," Orman said.

A few years ago, the popular Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide was rumored to be coming to Del Mar at some time during the gelding's racing career. Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable made a trip to Del Mar to scout it out and received the royal treatment from track president Joe Harper.

Funny Cide never made it west, however. The ownership group's ties to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., were too great, but Harper never felt used.

"He had a ball," Harper said of Knowlton. "I'm happy to show anyone around Del Mar who has never been here before.

"We'd love to see (Jess Jackson) and Curlin at Del Mar."

Contact staff writer Jeff Nahill at (760) 740-3550 or nctnahill@aol.com.