Curlin's Big Brown Challenge Declined
Story By Dubai Racing Club News
Friday, 15 August 2008: Jess Jackson offered to donate $50,000 to the Belmont Child Care Association if Big Brown was entered in the 1 1/8-mile race on August 30. “This type of competition between horses is exactly what Thoroughbred racing needs—an event that introduces the excitement and competition of racing to a broader audience,” he said.
However, despite the boasts of Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., that his colt is better than Curlin, it appears a match-up will be unlikely.
Michael Iavarone, president of IEAH Stables, co-owner of Big Brown, said his colt would not be ready for the Woodward after a draining effort in winning the Haskell Invitational Stakes (Gr.1) at Monmouth Park on August 3. Instead of aiming for the Woodward, which has over the years played a significant role in determining championships, Big Brown will be pointed toward a turf race and then the Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr.1).
“If they want to face us, that's where they should go,” Iavarone said, referring to the Classic.
Jackson, who said he issued the challenge after being "inspired" by Dutrow's claims about the colts' relative abilities, responded by suggesting the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (Gr.1) at Belmont Park on September 27 as another possible option for a meeting.
“Perhaps we could work together to get the Breeders' Cup to add an incentive to the purse so that a specific charity would get a bigger slice of the pie,” Jackson said in a press release issued by his Stonestreet Farms.
The Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run on the new Pro-Ride synthetic surface at Santa Anita Park, “is not part of my current plan for Curlin,” said Jackson, who has indicated he is uncertain of the Australian-engineered surface, which has not been used for racing competition.
“Our plan is to focus on the Woodward, look to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, hopefully with Big Brown in the field, and review our plans after that,” he explained. “Ultimately, all of us have to do what is in the best interest of our horse. I wish Big Brown well and hope Curlin has the opportunity to compete against him. It certainly would help the industry and please the fans of both of these majestic horses.”
Whereas Curlin won last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup, Big Brown suffered the only defeat of his career at Belmont Park when he was eased in the Belmont Stakes (Gr.1) as he attempted to sweep the Triple Crown. That performance would seem to further lessen the chances that America's two best colts will face each other on the racetrack this fall.
Jackson has said Curlin may race again as a five-year-old in 2009 and, if he does, possibly return to defend his title in the Dubai World Cup, but plans for Big Brown call for him to be retired for stud duty at Three Chimneys Farm.
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