Curlin’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, said Thursday the third-place Kentucky Derby finisher would run in the May 19 Preakness at Pimlico.
“Coming back from his first defeat (in his four-race career), we were curious to see where he would be mentally,” Asmussen sais. “The Derby is a race like no other. I just wanted to make sure it was still in him.
“The way Street Sense ran was worthy of a Derby victory. The way Hard Spun ran was worthy of second. After the fact you look at the race and see Curlin beat 17 of the best 3-year-olds in the country at one time. He just didn’t beat the other two. At no point was he going to win the race. He earned third.
“The uniqueness of the Preakness is that it’s two weeks off the toughest race of your life. In the Derby you get to run your last prep when you want. Whether it’s eight weeks or one week, it’s your choice.”
— Neil Milbert
*Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. was awarded $2.7 million in a lawsuit that claimed an ambulance firm caused his career-ending injuries by failing to treat him properly after a racing accident in 2003.
