Ride On Curlin Posts Solid Work at Oaklawn
Description:
Ride On Curlin, third in both the Southwest (gr. III) and Rebel (gr. II) stakes at Oaklawn Park, worked five furlongs over the track March 30 and remains on target for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
Daniel J. Dougherty's 3-year-old son of Curlin was timed in a solid 1:00 3/5 over a fast track as he prepares for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby April 12. The clocking, his first since the March 15 Rebel, was the fourth quickest of 46 at the distance on the morning.
Jockey Jon Court, who won the Arkansas Derby in 2010 with Line of David and in 2011 with Archarcharch, was aboard for the workout. He will have the mount in the 1 1/8-mile season finale of the Oaklawn meet, replacing Kent Desormeaux.
"It was exactly what we were looking for," trainer Billy Gowan said. "He broke him off slow and came home perfect. He'll work seven-eighths (of a mile) next weekend. We're sitting on go."
Ride on Curlin finished one length behind the victorious Hoppertunity in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel, pressing pacesetter Strong Mandate before taking a narrow lead in the stretch and giving way late.
He won an allowance race at Oaklawn in January prior to his efforts in the Southwest and Rebel. The bay colt out of the Storm Cat mare Magical Ride ran third in the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (gr. I) last October at Belmont Park.
Ride On Curlin, bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust, sports a 2-1-1 lifetime mark from eight starts with earnings of $214,687.