Breeders' Cup winning trio caps big year for Curlin

It was 15 years ago that the imposing Curlin concluded his career at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. The two-time Horse of the Year and first-ballot Hall of Famer quickly showed his mettle as a sire, with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice emerging from his first crop.

A decade later, Curlin has continued to climb the ranks of elite sires and last weekend burnished his résumé with a milestone. He recorded three Breeders’ Cup wins for the second consecutive year on Saturday, and is now the all-time leading sire by wins at the Breeders’ Cup, which celebrated its 40th edition this year at Santa Anita.

Curlin, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale in Paris, Ky., was represented, in race order on Saturday, by Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody’s Wish, Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Idiomatic, and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Elite Power. Cody’s Wish and Elite Power were both scoring repeat victories in their respective races. Cody’s Wish (Darley) and Elite Power (Juddmonte) both enter stud for 2024.

Last year at Keeneland they were joined by 2022 Distaff winner Malathaat for Curlin’s triple.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Curlin’s other career Breeders’ Cup wins came with Good Magic in the 2017 Juvenile and Vino Rosso in the 2019 Classic, giving him eight wins overall. Dubawi (Darley), Into Mischief (Spendthrift Farm), the late More Than Ready (WinStar Farm), and Tapit (Gainesway) are tied behind him with seven victories each. Dubawi, an international leading sire, moved into that group on Saturday when Master of The Seas won the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Curlin’s three Breeders’ Cup winners, who are all in the Eclipse Awards conversation, are part of a stellar year for the champion, in which has sired 12 stakes winners so far, including fellow Grade 1 winners Bright Future and Clairiere. His progeny have bankrolled $17,224,286 this season through Nov. 5, placing him second on the general sire earnings list to four-time reigning leader Into Mischief with $23,401,095. The latter has nearly twice as many runners this year, with 441 to Curlin’s 228.

In addition to his racetrack success, Curlin has also developed into a commercial powerhouse. He is the sire of the most expensive yearling sold in North America this year, a $4 million colt out of fellow Hall of Famer Beholder at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. With that colt leading the way, Curlin’s 39 yearlings sold at public auction this year have averaged $535,744, against their conception stud fee of $175,000. Curlin’s advertised fee has climbed to $250,000 for 2024, tying him as the most expensive sire in North America with Into Mischief and young phenom Gun Runner (Three Chimneys Farm).

Curlin is rapidly emerging as a sire of sires. Twice in a row he has been represented by sons with first-crop Kentucky Derby winners – Keen Ice (Calumet Farm) with Rich Strike and champion Good Magic (Hill ‘n’ Dale) with Mage.

Good Magic’s son Muth was second in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Skippylongstocking, a classic-placed son of Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator (Elite Thoroughbreds), a son of Curlin, was third in the Dirt Mile.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.