Multiple graded-stakes winner Curlin’s Approval rebounded from a fourth-place finish in the June 30 Princess Rooney (G2) Sunday with a dominating victory in the $75,000 Sugarloaf Key at Gulfstream Park.
Foaled and raised at Hidden Brook Farm, Curlin’s Approval cut back in distance to six furlongs for the first time since winning her career debut at the distance at Gulfstream June 5, 2016.
After a breaking well from the gate, Curlin’s Approval dropped back to last in the field of six fillies and mares along the backstretch before advancing on the outside of horses on the far turn. The Alter homebred made a powerful move on the turn into the homestretch to engage pacesetter Estilo Femenino, who set half-mile fractions of 22.40 (seconds) and 45.19. Despite losing valuable ground while swinging six-wide into the stretch, Curlin’s Approval drew off to win comfortably.
Curlin’s Approval ran six furlongs in 1:09.08 to register her seventh stakes win at Gulfstream Park, where she captured the Princess Rooney and Hurricane Bertie (G3) last year.
Happy Alter, who owns Curlin’s Approval with Bridlewood Farm, said his stable star may well be headed out of town for her next start.
“Curlin’s Approval keeps me happy and being back in the good combination of Bridlewood Farm and John Malone — general manager George Isaacs is here – goes back to the days of Halo’s Image, Sugar’s Image. So we’re here again and they’ll be more,” Alter said. “George and I are going to put our heads together and figure out whether we should travel. The one thing that we both have talked about is with the With Approval sire of the mare, we could try her on the grass. We’ll have to see. She’s very honest.”
The win by Curlin’s Approval came on the same afternoon that Hidden Brook yearling grad Yuvetsi captured the Rancho Bernardo S. (G3) at Del Mar.
-edited from www.horseracingnation.com
