Curlin's Approval getting back to work after break

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Owner-trainer Happy Alter is rarely at a loss for words when it comes to talking about his multiple graded stakes winner Curlin’s Approval, who is back in serious training again after getting a bit of a break following her fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Royal Delta here on Feb. 19. But on Monday, Alter was more eager to talk about the newest member of his stable, an unnamed 2-year-old by Tapit out of the Grade 1-winning mare Lady of Fifty whom he purchased here for $500,000 at last month’s Fasig-Tipton select sale.

“She breezed fast before the sale, but what I liked best about her was the way she galloped out, in 34 and change,” said Alter. “I know $500,000 for a Tapit seems cheap, but I think the reason I got her for that price is that her full brother, who is a 3-year-old, hasn’t done much yet in five starts. This horse has a head like a filly, but a body like a colt. Naturally, I’m going to take my time with her. I walked her for two weeks after the sale, she’s jogging now, and I’ll probably start galloping her in another week or so. But it will be a while before she’s ready to run.”

Curlin’s Approval will not take as long to get ready again after being given several weeks off by Alter following the Royal Delta. Curlin’s Approval had an easy three-furlong breeze on April 5 before getting more serious here Saturday, going four furlongs in 47.87 with exercise rider Elmer Nunez aboard.

“A freshening like this will be perfect for her,” said Alter. “She had 45 days between breezes and I was very conservative with the first one.”

Curlin’s Approval tired in the Royal Delta after dueling for the lead with the Chad Brown-trained Lewis Bay, who finished second as the favorite.

“We never planned to go to the front with Chad’s filly, and in the end it hurt both of us,” he said. “She’s coming right along now, and after another couple of works I’ll start looking for a prep race, with the Princess Rooney our main goal once again.”

Last July, Curlin’s Approval rallied to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 103 and an all-expenses paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint along with it.