Welcome to another installment of this week in Curlin babies: all the news that’s fit to print about Blinkers Off’s favourite sire.  It is a few days delayed due to the Arlington Million, but rest assured the Curlin babies are alive, well, and burning up the track.  Moulin de Mougin dazzled in the John C. Mabee Stakes (GII), coming up the rail as the second longest shot in the field to secure her first career stakes win.  Miss Frost, stepping back into stakes company for the first time since last year, achieved an upset victory in the Tenski Stakes at Saratoga.  On the Arlington Million undercard, Maria Maria returned to the grass in the second division of the Hatoof Stakes, finishing a closing second behind Kiss Moon.  Bold Conquest became the third winner in Curlin’s third crop, and Copperplate joined the ranks of the winners as well.  This week, a host of Curlin babies will attempt to break their maidens, including first-time starter Keen Ice.

Without further ado, let’s see what Curlin’s runners have been doing on the track lately!

Race Results

• Abusive Power (Plata, by Skip Away) – On August 16, Abusive Power finished eighth beaten 17 3/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at five and a half furlongs over the Del Mar polytrack.  The two-year-old colt was making his career debut.  He stalked along the rail on the inside, about three lengths off the pace, down the backstretch.  He started to steadily weaken through the turn, and had fallen close to the back as the field turned for home.  Once it was clear he was not going to challenge, jockey Martin Garcia stopped asking and he faded to last.  He had put up some good works leading into this race, suggesting he can possibly handle the track.  Hopefully next time, with a race under his belt, he will fare better.
• Barbara’s Smile (Credenza, by Lord Carlos), Myperfectvalentine (Netherland (ARG), by Roy) – On August 15, Barbara’s Smile and Myperfectvalentine raced in a $25,000 N2L claiming race at a mile and a sixteenth over the Saratoga grass.  Barbara’s Smile, a three-year-old filly, finished third: hitting the board for the first time since breaking her maiden at first asking.  She settled near the back of the pack early along the rail.  She angled out along the far turn, found racing room in the final furlong, and ran well late.  She finished 5 3/4 lengths behind winning lone speed Outer Orbit, but only missed the place by a nose behind Malibu Queen.  This race was Barbara’s Smile’s longest to date, and it suggests both that the class is okay and that it is worth trying a grass route again.  Myperfectvalentine, a four-year-old filly, was making her first turf attempt against winners, though she had tried it four times as a maiden.  She was near the back early, just outside of Barbara’s Smile, but moved into contention through the far turn.  She faded out of it in the stretch, though, and finished seventh beaten 13 3/4 lengths.  The tick up from $16,000 company to $25,000 company here was a bit baffling given that she struggled even at the lower level; she should at least drop back, or possibly find a bit softer spot than the Spa.
• Blisstering Strike (Brief Bliss, by Navarone) – On August 15, Blisstering Strike finished fifth beaten nine and a half lengths in an N1X allowance at a mile and seventy yards over the Penn National dirt.  The race was originally carded for the grass, but was washed off.  She shot to the lead early, and had the field by about three lengths coming down the backstretch.  The field caught her with three furlongs to go, though, and she faded to last in the field of five.  The three-year-old filly was facing winners for the first time after breaking her maiden at the same track in her previous start; that race was both her first at Penn National, and her first on the grass.  Hopefully this was a question of surface, and she will improve on return to the grass.
• Bold Conquest (One for Jim, by Distorted Humor) – On August 16, Bold Conquest won a maiden special weight at six and a half furlongs over the Saratoga dirt.  The two-year-old colt was racing for the second time.  He broke alertly, and settled on the outside about a length off the pace set by longshot Godiva’s Limousine.  Turning for home, Bold Conquest, Money Changer, and Zennor challenged the pacesetter, three in a line.  Favourite Zennor faded out quickly, and Money Changer and Bold Conquest dueled the length of the stretch.  Bold Conquest, on the outside, had just a little more: he edged ahead in the final strides, and gamely prevailed by a head.  He became the third winner in Curlin’s third crop, after fillies Curlin’s Princess and La Grange.
• Bold Shot (Soul Search, by A. P. Indy) – On August 10, Bold Shot won a $16,000-$14,000 N2L claiming race at a mile and a sixteenth over the turf at Ellis Park.  The four-year-old gelding was up for the higher tag, and was not claimed out of the race.  He broke slowest of the field, but settled along the rail to chase about four lengths back.  Aunt Ruby’s Kitten set positively glacial fractions: the quarter in 26.09, the half in 51.24.  Still, once E Pluribus and Neidermayer began to pressure her on the turn, she began to wilt.  Bold Shot, meanwhile, ran out of room on the rail, and had to swing outside of all three in front of her to make his move.  He got up there, ran at E Pluribus in the final furlong, and prevailed by a neck.  This was his first win on the turf, in his seventh starts against winners.
• Calamondin (Redaspen, by Bianconi) – On August 11, Calamondin raced for the first time since the beginning of May, and took down an N2X allowance optional claimer at six furlongs over the Parx dirt.  The four-year-old gelding raced under the allowance condition.  Longshot Show Me The Way and and even-money favourite Boogie Too shot to the front early, opening up six lengths, with Calamondin near the front of the main pack.  Through the turn, Calamondin closed that gap, running at the leaders.  As the field turned for home, the longshot dropped back, leaving the favourite as the only one left to catch.  He did so just in time, drawing even with Boogie Too in the final strides, and winning by a nose.  Dating back to his maiden win in March, this marks three straight wins for Calamondin in six career starts.  All have been at six furlongs on dirt, though they have been at three tracks: Laurel, Penn National, and now Parx.
• Captured (Alluring, by A. P. Indy) – On August 13, Captured won a $12,500-$10,000 claiming race at a mile over the Penn National dirt.  The three-year-old gelding was up for the higher tag, and not claimed out of the race.  Captured found the rail quickly, and chased about a length and a half off the lead.  1/2 favourite Tapulous had been on the front, and the rest of the field made their moves through the early part of the far turn.  This left Captured in last, though no further than three lengths off the front.  He moved later, in the latter half of the far turn, and circled outside the field.  There was nothing but open dirt in front of him, and entering the final furlong it was down to Captured and the best-moving of the early movers, Dream Voyage.  They opened half a dozen lengths on the field.  Captured took over the front in the final sixteenth, winning by 3/4 length.  Captured had been scratched from a $5,000 claiming race on August 8, and entered in this one instead.  It was still a class drop, as his last race had been a fifth-place finish against $16,000-$14,000 company at Monmouth.  His trainer scratched him in favour of this spot, and the result well validates the choice to make a less precipitous class drop.
• Charismata (Jack’s Little Girl, by Broad Brush) – On August 17, Charismata finished second beaten 9 1/2 lengths in an N1X allowance optional claiming race at six and a half furlongs over the Emerald Downs dirt.  The three-year-old filly raced under the allowance condition.  She settled fourth in the five-horse field early, tucked along the rail about four lengths back.  Coming through the turn she made up some ground, and passed closer stalkers Bee Does Bid and Jude Rocks.  She never quite got up to early leader Chu And You; as the field turned for home, the leader started to open up big.  She finished almost ten lengths back, but was a clear second: she crossed the wire another 4 1/4 lengths in front of Reigning, who had rallied for the show.  Charismata has been on the board in all but one of her eight career races, but has not had her picture taken since her career debut last August.  If her connections want to keep her at Emerald, she is in a tough spot: possibly a bit too good to be in for a tag, but not quite able to seal the deal in the allowance ranks, either.
• Copperplate (Verdana Bold, by Rahy) – On August 15, Copperplate broke his maiden.  He won a maiden special weight at five and a half furlongs over the Ellis Park turf by a length and a half.  He was out of the gate fast, and Noble Bid briefly challenged him for the front.  Copperplate got the best of him, though, and edged away through the far turn.  Turning for home he was a length ahead, and gamely kept going.  Henry Eight made a brief bid behind him in the final furlong, but Copperplate held his ground to win by a length and a half.  The three-year-old was running for the third time, and running on dirt for just the second time.  This was his first run on the Ellis dirt, against somewhat softer company than he faced in his career debut at Churchill Downs.  He found his stride, and has joined the ranks of the winners.
• Curlin Iron (Double D Appeal, by Successful Appeal) -On August 15, Curlin Iron finished fourth beaten 10 1/4 lengths  in a $40,000-$35,000 maiden claiming race at six furlongs over the Del Mar polytrack.  Making his career debut, the three-year-old colt was up for the higher tag.  He had actually been slated to race in a $20,000-$18,000 claiming race at Del Mar on August 1, but was scratched the day of the race.  This time out, he broke from the outermost gate, and settled at the back of the pack.  He made a steady, wide move through the far turn, but was no match for either runaway lone speed Kings Adventure nor the pair that had stalked him closest.  He ran steadily to the wire, not fading, making it a decent enough first time out and suggesting it was not necessarily folly to try him at this level.
• Danette (Sugar Britches, by Dixieland Band) – On July 13, Danette finished third beaten 2 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at a mile on the Del Mar polytrack.  It was the two-year-old filly’s third start, and best performance to date — though she was on a rise from a maiden claimer last out.  She broke from the inside, and stalked along the rail about two lengths off.  She stayed in about that position throughout, chasing the leader Majestic Presence with interest.  She was never able to quite move in on the wire-to-wire winner, but had enough to repel Redshirt down the stretch and hold on to the show.  Danette has shown improvement in each of her three races, so hopefully she will graduate sometime fairly soon.
• Diversy Harbor (Motokiks, by Storm Cat) – On August 16, Diversy Harbor finished sixth beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Del Mar Oaks (GI) at a mile and an eighth over the Del Mar turf.  The three-year-old filly ran her typical late-running style, loping almost a dozen lengths off the pace down the backstretch.  The pace quickened through the far turn, and she steadily made up ground on the outside.  She left herself a bit too much to do, though.  She never challenged the winner Personal Diary, though she finished right with a four-horse group that all crossed the wire within half a length of each other in second place through fifth.  According to Craig Bernick, president of Glen Hill Farm (her owner), they do not think the Del Mar course agrees with her, and they are pointing her to the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland next.  The statement about Del Mar makes sense, as her two Del Mar runs have been her only two times off the baord.  However, it seems a perplexing placing, as she performed so well in the 1 1/4 mile American Oaks (GI) at Santa Anita and is bred so well for distances.  The Valley View is just 1 1/16 miles, and it seems a filly with such stamina on both sides would thrive at longer.
• Dyker Beach (Favorite Feather, by Capote) – On August 18, Dyker Beach won a $50,000 starter allowance at six furlongs over the Saratoga dirt.  The four-year-old gelding was racing for the fourth time since breaking his maiden, and had finished second at this level in all three previous efforts against winners.  This time out, Dyker Beach settled about two lengths off early, and then steadily made up ground through the far turn.  He moved outside frontrunners Alysaro and D J Manlove approaching the head of the stretch, and assumed the lead as they faded.  Tony B and (to a lesser extent) Brendan G ran at him in the final furlong, but Dyker Beach found his somewhat elusive impetus to stay in front, crossing the wire two lengths the best of Tony B.  The fact that Dyker Beach won again just four starts after breaking his maiden is encouraging: it took him fifteen starts to break his maiden, and he has finished second nine times in nineteen races.  Clearly he is racing at a decent class level, and maybe he is learning to win.  According to trainer David Jacobson on August 19th’s edition of At The Races, he stated, “We’re going to look to keep him in allowance company, and see what happens.”
• Inspired By Grace (Harve de Grace, by Boston Harbor) – On August 16, Inspired by Grace finished fourth beaten 1 1/2 lengths in a $20,000 allowance optional claiming race at five and a half furlongs over the Monmouth Park turf.  The three-year-old filly raced under the allowance condition.  She settled midpack early, about four lengths off the lead.  She steadily improved position, and fired somewhat through the stretch.  She never quite challenged Trish’s Wish or Who’dathunk in front of her, and was outfinished by Claiming Victory on her outside.  Those three finished in a three-way win photo.  However, Inspired By Grace was the best of the rest, and was gaining a bit of ground late.  This was a logical spot for her, and it would make sense to race her under similar conditions and class next out.
• Julie Napp (Garden District, by Dixie Union) – On August 17, Julie Napp finished seventh beaten 21 1/2 lengths in an N1X allowance at 1 1/8 miles over the Saratoga dirt.  The three-year-old filly broke from the 6 gate, but gunned to the lead and settled along the rail entering the clubhouse turn.  She let the way through the backstretch, but was eclipsed by House Rules and Madaket Millie into the far turn.  The rest of the field swallowed her up, and she faded to last.  Julie Napp was racing for her second time since breaking her maiden, and has been seventh both times.  The first allowance was a fairly clear toss, since the entire field waited under tack for an hour in the paddock while veterinarians tried to assist Lavender Road, a horse who had collapsed after scratching out of the previous race.  This was a bit more honest attempt, and suggested either that the company was too difficult, or nine furlongs was too much.  As Julie Napp broke her maiden at six furlongs, a shorter distance may possibly be worth trying before dropping her.
• Lady of Luck (Lunarlady, by Yes It’s True) – On August 17, Lady of Luck finished sixth beaten 10 3/4 lengths in an open allowance at five furlongs over the Albuquerque Downs dirt.  She broke slowest in the field of six, and chased from the back of the field the entire way around.  It was the four-year-old filly’s first race in about two months, and she had only published one work since her last out.  She had run in stakes her last three races, so coming in dead last in an allowance was a disappointment.  This was her first race at Albuquerque, so there is some chance she did not like the track.  Her next time out should say a bit more, especially since she had only published one work since her last race.
• Larrymoeandcurlin (Sally Bowles (SAF), by London News (SAF)) – On August 15, Larrymoeandcurlin finished fifth beaten 7 1/4 lengths in a $25,000 maiden claiming race at six furlongs over the Indiana Grand dirt.  Breaking from the 6 gate in a field of eight, he settled midpack early, about four lengths off.  He improved to about three lengths off near the turn for home, but could not match the late kick of the top four.  He passed one fading horse down the stretch, but never really challenged.  It was the three-year-old gelding’s first race since March 29, and his first attempt in maiden claiming company after five off-the-board tries in the special weight ranks.  Even though he was on the drop from special weight to claiming company, he was freezing cold on the board: 67.5/1, the longest shot on the board.  He had no recent works, however, which may have contributed to both his high odds and his middling run.  Hopefully he is a bit fitter next out, with this race under him.
• Lin Marie (Coy Cat, by Hold That Tiger) – On August 16, Lin Marie finished fourth beaten 6 1/4 lengths in an N1X allowance at six furlongs over the Penn National dirt.  It was the three-year-old filly’s fourth race, and her second against winners.  She settled near the back of the pack early, about three lengths off the pace.  Coming through the turn, she angled wide and looked like she was making a move.  She never kicked in, though, and settled for gaining a bit on the third place horse.  She came close to the show, missing that by half a length, but that pair was several lengths behind the top two.  This was a welcome class drop; fresh out of her maiden win, she raced in the Miss Woodford Stakes, and finished seventh.  That was a bit over her head; this class made more sense.  Still, fourth was a bit disappointing given that she had broken her maiden over this track and distance.  It would still be worth trying at least once again, though.
• Lord of the Realm (Danceroftherealm (GB), by King of Kings (IRE)) – On August 17, Lord of the Realm finished fifth beaten 15 1/4 lengths in an N3L $7,500-$7,000 claiming race at a mile and seventy yards over the Fort Erie dirt.  The four-year-old colt was up for the higher tag, but not claimed out of the race.  He chased early in second, with almost half a dozen lengths between him and leader Shannon’s Posse.  Andalearribaarriba, third early, moved through the far turn.  Lord of the Realm tried to go with, but he faded out of contention approaching the stretch.  The tag was right, but the placement was a bit odd: Lord of the Realm has only won once, so N3L skipped him right past an eligible condition at which he had been running and not quite winning.  Hopefully he dials back to that level next.
• Maria Maria (Hollow Miss, by With Approval) – On August 16, Maria Maria finished second beaten a length in Division II of the Hatoof Stakes at Arlington Park, at about a mile and a sixteenth over the grass.  It was the three-year-old filly’s second career stakes placing.  She settled midpack early, along the rail, about half a dozen lengths back but quickly improving.  She angled off the rail coming into the far turn, swung outside, and charged on the outside.  She was able to catch everyone but Kiss Moon, who had been stalking closer early and had enough run late to evade Maria Maria.  Still, it was an encouraging run for what was only her third career turf start, and may be good enough that trainer James DiVito will send her to the Pucker Up Stakes (GIII) over the Arlington grass next.
• Miss Frost (Allencat, by Storm Cat) – On August 11, Miss Frost won the inaugural edition of the Tenski Stakes, run at a mile on Saratoga’s inner turf course.  The three-year-old filly was trying stakes company for the first time since her juvenile year, and coming off of a game allowance win at a mile over the Belmont grass on July 10.  She broke well, and made it up to the front early with Zinzay.  Zinzay floated out very wide into the clubhouse turn, though, shoving Miss Frost out with her.  She lost some ground, and ended up settling in the flight about two lengths off Zinzay’s lead.  Approaching the far turn, she encroached on the lead, and got it near the furlong marker.  Zinzay faded, but she still had to deal with a a late run from both Final Redemption and Hillhouse High on her outside.  She dug in, and held them off to win by half a length.  This marks her third win, as well as her first stakes win.  She has raced particularly well over the Saratoga grass: in addition to this win, she broke her maiden last year at the Spa, and finished third in the listed P. G. Johnson Stakes there last year.
• Moulin de Mougin (Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags) – On August 10, Moulin de Mougin won the John C. Mabee Stakes (GII) at a mile and an eighth over the Del Mar turf by half a length over Wishing Gate.  With this, she became Curlin’s second North American graded stakes winner, and his fourth graded or group stakes winner worldwide.  For a full description of the race, read the piece from Sunday evening.
• Ostentatious Me (Gorgeous Me, by Big Spruce) – On August 18, Ostentatious Me finished fifth beaten 3 3/4 lengths in a $40,000 maiden claimer at a mile and an eighth over the Saratoga grass.  The three-year-old colt was not claimed.  He broke from the outer gate, and settled in the back of the pack early.  He was still taking up the rear as the field turned for home, but he angled outside and came charging through the final sixteenth.  His advance was too little, too late to challenge the frontrunners, though he just missed the bottom run of the superfecta by a nose.   This was his second start of the year, and second start in claiming company after three starts last year in special weight.  This was an improvement on his distant sixth last out, but also a bit of class relief from the $65,000 company last out.  Next out he should be a bit fresher, third off the lay, and could try this level again.
• Shiva Curlin (Cavan Thunder, by Jump Start) – On August 10, Shiva Curlin finished ninth beaten 15 lengths in a conditioned allowance optional claiming race at a mile on the Gulfstream grass.  This race was a step down from stakes company in his last start, but his first attempt against older.  It was also his first race on the grass.  He stalked along the rail early, settling three or four lengths off of Mellow Fellow’s lone speed.  With about three furlongs to go, he bumped into the rail, and abruptly lost a lot of ground.  Between that and being bumped around in the stretch run, he faded and finished second to last.  It was good to see him drop in class; it would make sense to try this level next out, and see how he does with a less troubled trip.
• Smart Number (Star Number, by Polish Numbers) – On August 10, Smart Number finished sixth beaten 7 3/4 lengths in the Malvern Rose Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth over the Presque Isle Downs main track.  The three year old filly was racing in her second consecutive stakes at Presque, now having finished sixth both times.  She settled near the back of the pack early, and remained there much of the race.  Coming into the final furlong, she cut inside, and looked like she was going to challenge for at least second or third.  She flattened out, though, and dropped back to sixth come the wire.  She finished with a five-horse pack separated by just two and a half lengths, all following odds-on favourite Dame Dorothy.  It still seemed a little tough for her, and it would make sense to see her run a confidence builder in allowance company.  Before these two stakes she had won two straight at allowance level, and it seems that’s where she belongs for now.
• Trensita (Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway) – On August 10, Trensita finished sixth beaten 5 3/4 lengths in her career debut, a maiden special weight at a mile and a sixteenth over the Saratoga grass.  The two-year-old filly was near the back early, and took the clubhouse turn about three wide.  She improved her position don the backstretch, gaining touch with midpack on the outside.  She lost some of that ground on the far turn, where she was six wide.  She ran willingly down the stretch, but had just lost too much ground.  According to Trakus, Trensita covered an extra 67 feet due to her wide trip, equivalent to about seven and a half lengths more than wire-to-wire winner Lady of Victory.  Racing her at this level again seems wise, to see what she will do with more experience and a better trip.
• Waynesborough (Bloomy, by Polish Numbers) – On August 18, Waynesborough finished third beaten 5 3/4 lengths in an N1X Pennsylvania-bred allowance at a mile on the Parx dirt.  The four-year-old colt had finished second at this level last out, and has been second or third in all five starts since he broke his maiden at Pimlico in May.  He broke from the eight gate, second outermost in the field, and settled to the back coming into the first turn.  That was still only half a dozen lengths off the pace.  He made an outside move to enter contention through the backstretch, and was moving well late.  By then, the dueling pair of Modest Mouse and Dean The Man had broken too far ahead.  He caught everyone else to improve to third.  He broke his maiden at nine furlongs, in a turf race that had been washed off to dirt; it seems these are the right sorts of races to run him in, but hopefully he is able to win again soon.
• Wise Minister (Take a Check, by Touch Gold) – On August 18, Wise Minister finished sixth beaten 8 3/4 lengths in an N1X allowance at a mile and seventy yards over the Parx dirt.  The three-year-old colt was taking a bit of a drop after racing fifth in the Crowd Pleaser Handicap, a state-bred stakes, at Parx last out.  He got inside early, and chased about two lengths off the lead through the clubhouse turn.  He dropped out of it fairly abruptly approaching the far turn, though there was no clear trouble in the race replay.  It appeared he just tired, and faded to sixth.  Both his career wins were at a mile, so the distance made sense, and he has been competitive previously in state-bred and open allowances at Parx.  It will be interesting to see what spot they find; a state-bred N2X may be just the ticket, though that would depend on how often those are written in the condition book.
• Woelf Den (Gorgeous Goose, by Mongoose) – On August 10, Woelf Den finished eighth beaten 17 3/4 lengths in an N1X allowance optional claiming race at six and a half furlongs over the Gulfstream dirt.  The three-year-old colt was racing on only a week’s rest, second off a layoff since May.  He settled almost ten lengths off prohibitive favourite (and stablemate) Atreides’ pace early, and gradually lost ground as the race went on.  He never mounted any sort of challenge.  Hopefully he gets a bit more rest before his next run, and races a bit more sharply.

Running Soon

• Baht (Belladia, by Silver Deputy) – On August 21, Baht races in a $25,000 maiden claiming race at a mile over the Gulfstream dirt.  The three-year-old gelding drew the outermost gate in a field of eight.  This will be his fifth career start, and his second off the drop into claiming company.  On August 9, in his first race in about seven months, he faltered down the backstretch and faded to tenth at the $12,500 level.  He faces tougher here, though he may come into this race a little more ready since he was on the track recently.
• Curls in Place (Pola’s Place, by Out of Place) – On August 20, Curls in Place races in a $35,000-$30,000 maiden claiming race at seven and a half furlongs over the grass at Indiana Grand.  The three-year-old filly drew the outermost gate of seven, is up for the higher tag, and again races without Lasix.  She has raced twice before, both times in maiden special weight company at Belterra, and both times off the board.  The filly was well beaten in those starts, so a drop to claiming company makes sense.  This will also be her first try on turf, and the longest distance she has raced to date.
• Keen Ice (Medomak, by Awesome Again) – On August 23, Keen Ice is slated to make his career debut in a maiden special weight at five and a half furlongs over the Ellis Park dirt.  The two-year-old colt drew the 3 gate in a field of twelve.  He had been on the also-eligible list for a six-furlong race at this level last weekend, but did not draw into the race.  The colt has been on the worktab since late June, running four- and five-furlong drills, so should be fit to attempt this run.
• Miss Curley d’Oro (Hug It Out, by Medaglia d’Oro) – On August 20, Miss Curley d’Oro races in a maiden special weight at seven and a half furlongs over the Evangeline Downs turf.  The three-year-old filly drew the 2 gate in a field of ten main entries, plus four also eligible entries.  This will be her first race since June 19, when she finished seventh at this level at Evangeline, and only her third career start.  She worked three times through July, but has not posted a move in August.
• Reversiontothemean (Jet Setting, by Forestry) – On August 20, Reversiontothemean will run in an N2X/N4L allowance optional claiming race at about a mile and seventy yards over the Suffolk Downs grass.  (No, that is not a typo, but rather an atypical race condition compared to most tracks.)  the three-year-old filly races under the allowance condition.  It took her nine tries to break her maiden, but the light seems to be on: she finished second in her first race against winners, and then cleared the N1X condition in a turf mile at Suffolk on August 6.  Here she is the only three-year-old facing older fillies and mares, but the distance is right and she has shown that she likes the track.

Other News

• Dyker Beach (Favorite Feather, by Capote) – On August 16, Dyker Beach had been entered in a $50,000 N2L claiming race at seven furlongs over the Saratoga dirt.  However, he was a trainer scratch the morning of the race.  He was instead placed in a $50,000 starter allowance on August 18 at the Spa, which he won as described in the Race Results section.
• Keen Ice (Medomak, by Awesome Again) – On August 17, Keen Ice had been entered in a maiden special weight at six furlongs over the Ellis Park dirt.  However, the two-year-old colt was on the also eligible list, and did not draw into the main field.  He was scratched.  The race would have been his career debut.  However, he has re-entered into another race this week, as discussed above in the Running Soon section.
• Lord of the Realm (Danceroftherealm (GB), by King of Kings (IRE)) – On August 12, Lord of the Realm had been scheduled to race in a $7,500-$7,000 maiden claiming race at a mile and seventy yards over the Fort Erie dirt.  However, the race was cancelled due to severe weather in the racetrack’s vicinity.  It would make sense to see him come back in a similar race soon, given the improved performance he has shown since shipping to Fort Erie.
• Mike the Hab (Hightshift, by St. Jovite) – On August 12, Mike the Hab had been scheduled to race in an N2L allowance at about seven furlongs over the grass at Fort Erie.  However, severe weather around the track led to the race’s cancellation, and Mike the Hab will have to make his Fort Erie debut another day.

That’s it for this week.  If there’s a Curlin baby at any level of racing who you think I missed, leave a comment or send me an email and let me know so I can add them to my list and cover them in future installments of this week in Curlin babies!