Prophesy scored win number 556 (in 2008 alone) for Asmussen, who races horses throughout the United States and Canada.

"We've had a tremendous year, made possible by some tremendous opportunities and my outstanding help," said Asmussen. "The success we've had with the Curlins and the Pyros has been fantastic. But we came from a small, midwestern track, and I like to think that we remember where we came from."

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“It’s not happening,” Asmussen said. “With the pot dropping (from $500,000 to $400,000) and the weather being bad, it’s not going to happen. The track was closed today too, so it’s just not working out.”

Curlin is North America's highest-earning racehorse with 11 wins under his belt and over $10 million in earnings. Get all your online horse odds in the Bodog Racebook today.

He will face a small field that will not include Big Brown—the connections of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion declined owner Jess Jackson's offer of a $50,000 charitable donation in exchange for Big Brown's participation. Instead, the field of possible contenders includes Star Plus, a Group 1 winner based in Argentina; Divine Park, unbeaten in his last three outings; and Out of Control, runner-up in his last two graded stakes races.

If Curlin is feeling any pressure to live up to expectations, he isn't showing it. The 2007 Horse of the Year has looked every bit the champion in his workouts, turning out an effortless breeze of half a mile in 49.14 in his final prep. "He's very professional," exercise rider Carlos Rosas said afterwards. "Once you step on the track, he knows what's going on. Right now, he knows what's coming. I think he's ready. He's ready to rumble."

The Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old has had an amazing 2008 campaign so far. With the exception of his runner-up finish at the Man o' War Stakes, Curlin has not lost this year. Recent wins in the $1M Stephen Foster Handicap, the $6M Dubai World Cup and the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy have padded his lifetime earnings to $9,296,800. All eyes will be on Curlin to see if he can add a win in the Woodward Stakes on Aug. 30 to his already impressive resume.

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Owner Jess Jackson reported Tuesday that Curlin’s next race will be on a 1 1/8-mile dirt course in the Gr. 1 $500,000 Woodward Stakes on Aug. 30 in Saratoga for 3-year-olds and up. The $1 million Gr. 1 Pacific Classic Stakes and the $1 million Gr. 1 Arlington Million Stakes had also been under consideration. Jackson has also said that Curlin will not run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October as originally planned. He did not, however, rule out a matchup between Curlin and Big Brown, winner of Sunday’s Haskell Invitational, at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup, saying a meeting between the two was "still in the options."

Of Big Brown, Jackson said: "We don't have anything to prove, he does. We like him, he's a great horse; it would be good for racing to have them together. We're not avoiding him, we're just doing what's right for Curlin."

The 2007 Horse of the Year has been breezing well on the Oklahoma Training Track. Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with Curlin's latest clocking of 1 minute and 2.72 seconds over five furlongs, saying: "I thought he looked tremendous… He jogged off very comfortable. He went around as smooth as glass and galloped out real strong."

Curlin’s loss in the Man o’War has been the only blip in a stellar string of performances that include wins in the Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr. 1), a handicap race at the Dubai World Cup and the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr. 1).

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Big Brown has been working aggressively in recent weeks and appears to have forgotten his Belmont Stakes nightmare. He is on schedule to start in the Gr. 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 3, and if the talented colt shows a return to form in the Haskell, a start in the Gr. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita could have the racing world buzzing with anticipation once again.

However, Sunday’s starters won’t be able to avoid Belmont winner Da’ Tara. New York conditioner Nick Zito’s charge will use the Jim Dandy as a springboard to the prestigious Gr. 1. Travers Stakes coming up at the Spa on Aug. 23 and will be joined in the gate on Sunday by his stable mate Anak Nakal, third-place finisher in the Belmont.

Leading North American trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Louisiana Derby winner Pyro, a talented colt who had the attention of racing fans during the spring and was the early favorite leading up to the Kentucky Derby before losing his momentum in the main event. Pyro has regained his stature with a recent victory and provides some fuel for thought in the Jim Dandy.

Macho Again, runner-up to Big Brown in the Preakness has been confirmed a definite starter along with Iowa Derby winner Tiz Now Tiz Then, who hails from the barn of California conditioner Eoin Harty.
Recent Dwyer Handicap winner Mint Lane, on a roll lately for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, is being strongly considered for the race and Tizbig, runner-up in the Dwyer is a definite.

Barclay Tagg’s, Big Truck, who finished well up the track behind Big Brown in the Derby and hasn’t raced since, is being considered for the Jim Dandy but could wait for the Grade 3, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer on Aug. 2 his connections report.

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Curlin’s recent turf defeat in the Man O’War Handicap to Red Rocks has not altered his position on top of the leaderboard. The champion’s $4,289,000 from his two previous victories in the $6 million Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster handicap have him safely positioned in the lead. Richard Dutrow’s Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown remains in second position with $2,676,000, while his stable mate, the crack sprinter Benny the Bull, continues to close in with $1,753,080. Two distinguished distaffers have advanced into the top five. Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell has cracked the $1 million mark and is fourth with $1,008,340, while the talented mare Hystericalady could be one start away from the million’s club with $952,053.

Last month’s leading trainers retain their top three positions. Steve Asmussen has a lock on the leading trainer title with total purses of $17,031,864 from an overwhelming 1,596 starters producing 357 happy endings for the Texan. New York based Richard Dutrow has been making the best of his limited starters with his 100 wins from 410 starters, amassing earnings of $8,995,978. Maintaining a solid pace and occupying third place on the leaderboard is Todd Pletcher, whose record of 124 wins from 574 trips to the post is has earned his stable $7,966.677.

The list of leading riders has a new name on the top going into mid-summer. Garrett Gomez has moved to the front of the illustrious group with his mounts accumulated earnings of $11,338,121. The purse lead comes from 581 mounts, earning the rider 109 visits to the coveted winner’s circle. Former front-runner Robby Albarado holds second place with a purse total of $10,747, 928 from 685 starts and 146 first-place finishes and leads third-place jockey Edgar Prado, who boasts $9,768,241 in total purse earnings off of 118 wins from 664 attempts.

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With regular rider Robby Albarado aboard, the striking chestnut made a grand appearance on the Churchill Downs turf course Tuesday and impressed observers with his confident manner. Accompanied by a workmate, Curlin breezed seven furlongs well out from the inner rail and accomplished his move in the excellent time of 1:31.20 considering the wide trip. Starting off two lengths behind his stable mate, the allowance-winning Hawaii Calls, the champion collared that one near the finish and was a half-length clear when the workout was completed.

Curlin appeared to handle the turf much as he has handled his opposition – with ease, and his connections were giddy with the result of his first venture on to the new surface. Trainer Steve Asmussen toned down his optimism by underplaying the workout as just a training move and not near as significant as a race in determining the horse’s ability to carry his championship form to the turf.

North America’s leading rider Robby Albarado was beaming with confidence after the move and predicted his favorite mount would have no problem switching playing fields.

Depending on the weight assignments, the next step in the turf transformation will include a July 12 start in either the Gr. 3 Arlington Million Handicap at Chicago’s Arlington Park at 1 ¼ miles or the grassy Gr. 1 Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park over 1 3/8 miles.

In either spot, the country’s most popular racehorse will certainly be “going green” in the near future.

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Curlin's performance has been nothing short of impressive this year. (AP Images)

Curlin, along with his trainer Steve Asmussen and his regular rider Robby Albarado continue to lead their respective divisions on the North American racing scene through mid-May.

With the $3,600,000 Curlin banked winning the Dubai World Cup Classic in his only seasonal start to date, the reigning Horse of the Year remains comfortably atop the list of leading money winning horses. Vaulting into second place on the exclusive list is the undefeated three-year-old Big Brown by virtue of the $2,676,700 amassed in four starts including the lucrative Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Benny the Bull with $1,365,000 sits third ahead of Dubai winners Go Between and Well Armed who share fourth-place on the lucrative list with $780,000, Santa Anita Handicap hero Heatseaker is sixth, Gayego seventh and Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell has made her way into the top eight, banking $681,340 from four 2008 starts.

Asmussen continues to have a commanding lead in the trainer standings with $12,063,118 in purses from 1,059 starters. Big Brown’s conditioner Richard Dutrow has saddled only 284 horses but the high-profile conditioner sits comfortably in the second position boasting total earnings of $7,023,768. Third-place on the list is occupied by well-known trainer Todd Pletcher who continues his winning ways, tightening the girth on 404 starters who have earned $5,910,671.

Four talented riders are dominating the jockey standings with only 25 mounts separating them. At the top of the list is Albarado, whose 463 mounts have earned $7,932,216 to date. Garrett Gomez has ridden the least horses but his 438 trips to the post have resulted in earnings of $7,519.406. Not far behind with purses totaling $7,365,514 from 453 mounts is recent Hall of Fame inductee Edgar Prado. Big Brown’s regular pilot Kent Desormeaux has climbed aboard 440 starters and his Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories have helped amass a total of $6,917,518.

Triple Crown favorite Big Brown, conditioner Richard Dutrow and jockey Kent Desormeaux are heavy favorites to add substantially to their totals when they team-up in the Gr. 1 Belmont Stakes.

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