Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin won the world's richest race today, the $6 million Dubai World Cup, setting a new record margin of victory for the 2,000 meter event (almost 1 1/4 miles). This is the second time in Curlin's life he's set such a record, he also did it last year in the Arkansas Derby, which he won by a record-setting 10 1/2 lengths. The final time for the Dubai World Cup was 2:00.15, the third fastest time in the race's 13-year history. Last year in a smaller field of contenders, then Horse of the Year Invasor, set the second fastest time, just shy of Dubai Millenium's all-time DWC record.
Curlin was extraordinary as a three-year-old in 2007, becoming the strongest candidate for the Eclipse Awards' Horse of the Year. What a year it was. He was unraced at two, won his first start at three and quickly found himself as one of the most respectable contenders on the 2007 Kentucky Derby trail, going on to win the Arkansas Derby, and placing third in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby with much less experience than his foes. He beat the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness, and next time out was beaten only a nose by superfilly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes. He topped of the year by beating older horses too in the Breeders Cup Classic run at 1 1/4 miles.
The Dubai World Cup was no cinch after Curlin drew post 12 with only one horse farther out than him. Jockey Robby Albarado got Curlin in a good spot early, stalking foes from fourth. Asiatic Boy had taken the lead from Well Armed as they approached the home stretch, when Curlin fired up his afterburners with 300 meters left at Nad Al Sheba Race Course, drawing away to become the first horse to ever win the Dubai World Cup from post 12.
Asiatic Boy was a late second to Well Armed as those two continued to duel in the stretch. A.P. Arrow and Great Hunter fill out the top five.
One of the surprising things in the 2008 Dubai World Cup replay is how Curlin appears to be watching foes to the inside of him as they begin to race. However, it's possible that it was instead the camera vans traveling around the inside of the track that caught Curlin's attention.
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