Curlin Becomes All-Time Leading Money Winner

Curlin passed Cigar to become the all-time leading money winner in North America horse racing betting on Saturday after he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Curlin rallied past Wanderin Boy to win by almost a length as the 2-5 horse betting favorite. The victory pushed Curlin past the $10 million dollar mark in earnings to $10.2 million, surpassing Cigar who was just under $10 million. Curlin took home the $450,000 first place prize and become just the ninth horse to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup two straight years.

Curlin was held back early in the race by jockey Robby Albarado because he didn’t want Curlin going too wide. Curlin split horses entering the far turn and was third but still had to go five wide. He was able to get past Wanderin Boy at the eighth pole and came home in 2:01.93. Curlin paid $2.80 to win for the horse betting gamblers that backed him. "I had to sacrifice some position and suck on in to be able to save ground before I got to the turn, and it worked out beautiful for me," Albarado said. "Curlin put in his patented run around the outside, and I got that same feeling every time." Wanderin Boy finished second for the second time in three years in the Jockey Club Gold Cup while Merchant Marine finished third in horse racing betting.

Curlin now could be pointed to Breeders Cup betting in October. He is shipping to Santa Anita so the owners and trainer of Curlin can see if he likes the new synthetic track. Breeders’ Cup betting will be held at Santa Anita on October 25th. "We're thinking about it," owner Jess Jackson said. Trainer Steve Asmussen was more concerned about the money record than about the Breeders’ Cup. "This is what I wanted," Asmussen, "I really did. Him being all-time money winning horse, what a great ring it has to it. I'm very thankful to [Jackson] to give us the opportunity to do it in a race like this and I think for him to be at that mark with an authoritative victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup means a lot." If Curlin runs it would set up one of the most anticipated races in years as he would face Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.