Curlin, Pyro, Grasshopper Work

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Horse of the Year candidate Curlin continued his path toward an unrevealed destination when trainer Steve Asmussen sent him to an easy five-furlong work over the Fair Grounds surface Jan. 18. The 4-year-old Smart Strike  colt went the distance in 1:04 flat on a fast track.

The recent move brought Curlin’s total for the year to three works. Coming off an Oct. 27 victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), he went four furlongs in :53.40 at Fair Grounds Jan. 6, then turned in a :51.20 effort going the same distance Jan. 12.

Asmussen has yet to speak of a potential start in 2008 for the colt, but a target has been confirmed for Curlin’s stablemate, Pyro, who will make his 3-year-old debut at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 9.

The son of Pulpit  , second to War Pass in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last time out, worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 at Fair Grounds Jan. 18. He is an Eclipse Award finalist for 2-year-old male.

Also on the track was the Neil Howard-trained Grasshopper, who went six furlongs in 1:13.40. The 4-year-old Dixie Unioncolt was second to Street Sense in the 2007 Travers Stakes (gr. I) and second-place finisher in his last start, the Sept. 22 Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs.

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