The unbeaten Curlin leapt to Kentucky Derby favouritism after he demolished the Arkansas Derby (Gr2) field. The Steve Asmussen trained colt will next run in the Derby in three weeks time. Tiger Ridge colt, the stakes winning Storm in May, was over ten lengths back in second, whilst the likes of promising performers Officer Rocket and Flying First Class were beaten out of sight.

Curlin, who was coming off a dominating win in the Rebel Stakes (Gr3), is bidding to emulate Smarty Jones, who won the Rebel and Arkansas Derby prior to his Louisville triumph.
Now three from three, Curlin is a son of Smart Strike. Lightly raced, Smart Strike won six of eight starts at three and four. His biggest victory came in the Philip Iselin Handicap (Gr1), beating champion filly Serena's Song by over three lengths. He also ran fourth in the Woodward, when outclassed by dual Horse of the Year Cigar.
Smart Strike was retired to Lane's End Farm in 1997, with his spectacular pedigree (by Mr Prospector out of classic winner and top broodmare Classy N Smart) was always going to be popular.
His stud career has been one of steady success, and his fee's increase has reflected that over recent seasons. The sire of over 40 stakes winners, Smart Strike is currently siring 10% stakes winners to foals - a statistic which puts him in the top echelon of stallions. To date his best sons have been Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free and multiple Gr1 winner English Channel, whose full brother Sedgefield is a very promising three-year-old.

Curlin's dam, Sheririff's Deputy, a daughter of twice champion sire and outstanding broodmare Deputy Minister. The Smart Strike/ Deputy Minister cross has also produced Gr3 winning filly Super Freaky.
She was unraced and Curlin is the first stakes winner she has produced.
Her dam Babarika was a smart race filly who seven races including a Gr2. She was a poor broodmare and never bred a stakes winner. Babarika in turn was a daughter of champion Bates Motel (an ordinary sire) and the ten time winner War Exchange. In contrast to her daughter Babarika, War Exchange did well at stud, throwing three stakes horses. Her daughter Count on Kathy being the granddam of gr1 winner Exogenous and the ill fated champion Countess Diana.