Ride On Curlin Sets Ellis Park Record

A star may have been born this past Sunday, and racing fans are now wondering if Ride On Curlin has taken the first step toward a run for the roses at Churchill Downs in the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Going off as the 2-5 favorite in a 5 1/3 furlong maiden special weight event at Ellis Park under jockey Calvin Borel, Ride On Curlin essentially toyed with the field of juveniles before pulling away for a track record of 1:03 flat.

Puts away the field with little trouble

Off a step slow coming out of the #1 post, Borel hustled the Curlin-Magical Ride colt to the front, and then sat on a comfortable lead while reeling off fractions of 22.75 for the first quarter and 45:49 for the half-mile. Coming off the turn, the second choice Union Hall tried to make a race of it, with jockey Corey Lanerie guiding his mount quickly down to the rail as Borel took a peek over his right shoulder. But once Borel located Union Hall sneaking up the rail, he more-or-less pushed a button, and Ride On Curlin was gone.

Memories of Street Sense for jockey Borel

The winning margin was 7 ¾-lengths, with Union Hall another 8 ¼-lengths ahead of third-place finisher Thatcher Street. The winning time broke the 90-year-old Ellis Park record for 5 ½ furlongs on the dirt by .29 of a second. Afterwards, trainer Bill Gowran stated that the horse was the best he has ever trained, while Borel compared Ride On Curlin’s demeanor and talent to that of Street Sense, who he rode to win the 2007 Kentucky Derby.  This was Ride On Curlin’s second maiden try, after finishing second earlier this spring at Churchill.