Ride On Curlin Returns in Thanksgiving 'Cap
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coady Photography
Ride On Curlin returns to the races Nov. 26 in the Thanksgiving Handicap
Daniel Dougherty's classic-placed Ride On Curlin returns to the races Nov. 26 in search of his first stakes win in the $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Despite placing in three grade I events, including the 2014 Preakness, the 4-year-old son of Curlin looks back to January for his most recent win, a Churchill Downs optional claimer for trainer Billy Gowan. He was laid up following a ninth in the Alysheba Stakes (gr. II) in May, and also spent time on the sidelines last year after a rough Triple Crown campaign in which he placed in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), Rebel Stakes (gr. II), and Arkansas Derby (gr. I), then was seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and third in the Preakness before bleeding in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), where he was eased.
Ride On Curlin completed his final preparations for the Thanksgiving Handicap with a five-furlong move in 1:01 3/5 Nov. 20 at Churchill before shipping to the New Orleans track.
"He's great right now," Gowan said. "He worked the right way yesterday. He's sound, moves good, and his legs are cold—so it's time to run him, because you never know until you bring them back. He's never won past six furlongs in his life, but I think he could be a good miler. I'm not sure he's a top sprinter, but he's a fast horse and owns a track record going five and a half (furlongs)—so I think he can compete there. Plus, I think he'll love that long stretch. Hopefully there will be speed in there so he can use that big punch he has to get them in the end."
Despite never winning a stakes, the bay colt has earned $780,287, including a perfect two-for-two record at the Thanksgiving's six-furlong distance. So far in 2015, he has started only four times.
"He got sore and had bone bruising on his cannon," Gowan explained. "He's the smartest horse I've been around and may be smarter than I am. I think he protects himself when he's not right. Hopefully he runs as well as he's training. I want to keep him around all year. He's turning five and this could be his best year."
The Thanksgiving Handicap also features multiple graded stakes winners Clearly Now and Nates Mineshaft.
Thanksgiving H.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Thursday, November 26, 2015, Race 9
- STK
- 6f
- Dirt
- $60,000
- 3 yo's & up
- 2:57 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Clearly Now (KY) | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | 122 | Ron Faucheux | 8/5 |
| 2 | 2Rugged (KY) | Patrick A. Valenzuela | 113 | Jon M. Cowan | 30/1 |
| 3 | 3Solar Charge (TX) | Richard E. Eramia | 114 | Ellen Williams | 15/1 |
| 4 | 4Ride On Curlin (KY) | Francisco C. Torres | 115 | William G. Gowan | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Control Stake (FL) | Colby J. Hernandez | 113 | Thomas M. Amoss | 9/2 |
| 6 | 6Officer Griffin (KY) | Emmanuel Esquivel | 117 | Joe Sharp | 9/2 |
| 7 | 7Nates Mineshaft (KY) | Florent Geroux | 116 | Anne P. Smith | 6/1 |
| 8 | 8Speightsong (ON) | Leandro R. Goncalves | 115 | Grant T. Forster | 6/1 |