Curlin works easy five furlongs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Curlin had his first workout since his dramatic Preakness victory when breezing five furlongs in 1:03.20 just after dawn Monday over a fast Churchill Downs track.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said beforehand that he wanted something very much like the 1:03.20 that one of his other horses had breezed during the first set, shortly after 6 a.m. Eastern. He got precisely that, as Curlin, with exercise rider Carmen Rosas aboard, proceeded through splits of 13.60, 26.80, 38.60, 51.20, and 1:03.20 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.60.

Asmussen, who had flown in from Dallas on Sunday night to be at Churchill for the work, watched from the frontside, then returned to his barn to address a handful of reporters. He said he was very pleased with the work and that Curlin would breeze again Monday before being flown the following morning to New York, where he will run June 9 in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

Asmussen was on an early return flight to Dallas, then was scheduled to return to Louisville on Monday night before driving to Keeneland the following morning.

Meanwhile, trainer Carl Nafzger said he has planned a Wednesday morning workout for Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner who lost the May 19 Preakness by a head to Curlin. Nafzger said he probably will announce Wednesday whether or not Street Sense will run in the Belmont.LOUISVILLE, Ky. Curlin had his first workout since his dramatic Preakness victory when breezing five furlongs in 1:03.20 just after dawn Monday over a fast Churchill Downs track.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said beforehand that he wanted something very much like the 1:03.20 that one of his other horses had breezed during the first set, shortly after 6 a.m. Eastern. He got precisely that, as Curlin, with exercise rider Carmen Rosas aboard, proceeded through splits of 13.60, 26.80, 38.60, 51.20, and 1:03.20 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.60.

Asmussen, who had flown in from Dallas on Sunday night to be at Churchill for the work, watched from the frontside, then returned to his barn to address a handful of reporters. He said he was very pleased with the work and that Curlin would breeze again Monday before being flown the following morning to New York, where he will run June 9 in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

Asmussen was on an early return flight to Dallas, then was scheduled to return to Louisville on Monday night before driving to Keeneland the following morning.

Meanwhile, trainer Carl Nafzger said he has planned a Wednesday morning workout for Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner who lost the May 19 Preakness by a head to Curlin. Nafzger said he probably will announce Wednesday whether or not Street Sense will run in the Belmont.