Curlin Workout for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Curlin, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, covered seven furlongs in 1 minute 31.30 seconds in his inaugural test on turf at Churchill Downs. The workout was the first step in what could be a trip to Paris to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5.

If Curlin runs in that race, it's unlikely he would also run in the Breeders' Cup Classic less than three weeks later. Big Brown's status up in the air and Heatseeker having retired mean the Classic field could lack a big-name attraction.

For now, trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing Curlin toward a racing debut on turf July 12 in either the Grade I, $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at New York's Belmont Park or the Grade III, $200,000 Arlington Handicap at Chicago's Arlington Park.

All of Curlin's races have been on dirt, which made Tuesday's work on grass a critical step toward the Arc de Triomphe. The most recent major American horse to star on dirt and then make the trip to Paris for the Arc de Triomphe was 1961 Kentucky Derby winner Carry Back, who finished 10th in a field of 24.