Kentucky Derby Countdown:
35 Days Until May 3rd and the 134th Kentucky Derby
Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Curlin, Big Brown, and 12.
The number 12 will be very important to two strong racing favorites Saturday: Curlin and Big Brown. It is the post position Curlin drew for the $6 million Dubai World Cup and Big Brown drew for the $1 million Florida Derby.
Curlin appears to have an easier task. English bookmaker William Hill has listed the 2007 Horse of the Year as the 2-5 favorite. In fact, he is so heavily favored that the race book is offering a separate win pool on the other dozen Dubai World Cup horses, minus Curlin.
The Dubai World Cup is a 11/4 miles. Because of the triangular shape of the Nad Al Sheba main track, there is more than a quarter-mile run to the first turn. That should give Curlin jockey Robby Albarado time to move closer to the rail to save some ground.
That will be important because of a very long, tiring stretch run. Albarado will need to conserve Curlin's energy for the latter part of the race.
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Horse race handicappers know that if this quality horse has a good trip, he is destined to win another for the USA on foreign sand.
Visit Horse Race Handicapping College for more information.
