By Steve Sherack
Two-time Grade I winner Curalina (Curlin–Whatdreamsrmadeof, by Graeme Hall)–freshened since finishing a respectable third against her elders in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Oct. 30–has recently returned to trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base with a long-term eye on a return trip to the year-end Championships at Santa Anita this fall.
“She seems to have filled out and grown up considerably since the Breeders' Cup and we're thrilled with her condition,” Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners President Aron Wellman reported. “Richard Budge and Elliott Walden and the WinStar team did a spectacular job with her during her stay in Lexington and they've got her right where we wanted her.”
The chestnut, a $125,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, captured the GI Acorn S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard in improbable fashion after getting squeezed badly at the start. Awarded first place via disqualification after being interfered with late in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa July 26, she punched her ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a smart second behind Wedding Toast (Street Sense)–good for a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure–in the GI Beldame S. at Belmont Sept. 26. Curalina was bred in Kentucky by CASA Farms I LLC.
“Todd will get her back into his program and, as always, we'll just allow her to tell us when she's ready to launch her season,” Wellman continued. “If things go perfect, it's conceivable she'd be prepared to run sometime around Oaks/Derby weekend, but we certainly won't press her to get there, as it's a long season and, of course, our ultimate goal will be the Breeders' Cup Distaff in the fall.”
Wellman concluded, “Curalina won at Gulfstream [maiden special weight last March], Churchill [optional claimer in May], Belmont and Saratoga and she was third in the Distaff at Keeneland last year, so we know she travels well and she doesn't carry her track with her. That gives us confidence to be methodical about mapping out her campaign in 2016 and picking and choosing our spots, which we hope will lead her to a championship-caliber season.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
