Curlin wins the Breeders Cup Classic, North America's richest horse race with $5 Million in prize money.  Curlin finished the 1 1/4 dirt track event in a time of 2:00:59 four lengths ahead of Hard Spun in second position, with Awesome Gem taking third place nine and half lengths off the lead.

Two days of showery conditions made for a sloppy track for the highlight race of the Breeders Cup, the final race of the series, The Breeders Cup Classic Powered by Dodge, open to thoroughbred 3 year olds and up had a field of just 9 starters.

The Race in Review

Hard Spun off to a good solid start as he sprints to the lead ahead of Any Given Saturday and Lawyer Ron in third place.  Diamond stripes advances into third position as Lawyer Ron back in forth place.  Hard Spun setting a respectable pace in these sloppy conditions into the first turn with a 23.0s first 1/4 mile.

As they come out of the first turn Hard Spun now a length ahead of an advancing Lawyer Ron in second place with Diamonds Stripes now in third, followed by Any Given Saturday and George Washington in fifth.  Farther back in the field it's Curlin and Street Sense some eleven lengths off the lead and a further six lengths back is Awesome Gem and Tiago.  Passing the 3/4 mile marker in 1:10.60s Hard Spun is keeping the field running a very honest pace for these conditions.

With only a 1/2 mile to go Hard Spun leads, followed by Lawyer Ron, Any Given Saturday in third and Diamond Stripes in fourth as Curlin and Street Sense farther back in the field start making their move.  Any Given Saturday and Diamond Stripes unable to keep up with the increasing pace loose ground as Curlin and Street Sense close the gap and move into forth and fifth positions and continuing to draw closer to race leader Hard Spun by the second.  Curlin continues to power through the field and takes the lead as they come out of the final turn.

Heading onto the final stretch with less than a 1/4 mile to the finish, Curlin continues to open the gap between Hard Spun in second, and Street Street in third.  Awesome Gem making his move in an incredible attempt to catch the leaders, but Curlin's position on the podium is already secure with less than 1/16 of a mileto go and Hard Spun unable to close the four lengths between them as Curlin crosses the line in 2:00:59 with Hard Spun second, Awesome Gem passes a tiring Street Sense to take third position.

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