How to bet the 2025 Curlin Stakes

A solid field of eight sophomores will run nine panels on the Saratoga dirt strip in Thursday's $135,000 Curlin S. Trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, two of the most dominant conditioners at this meeting in recent times, will each send out a pair of prospects in the tilt and the race will go through the three-year-olds that they will saddle. 

Curlin Wagers

• $24 win #6 Crudo ($24)
• $8 exacta box 3-6 ($16)

I feel that Pletcher’s #6 Crudo (6-1) is a talented horse in general, and I expect him to lead this field at every call at a fair price under John Velazquez. By Justify, the $350,000 weanling purchase was unplaced in a sprint debut at Gulfstream Park in February at first asking, but thrived with the additional ground second time out with a dominant, 7 1/4-length blitz at Keeneland. Sent postward at a generous 7-2 in the Sir Barton S. at Pimlico in his initial try with winners, the colt led at every call once again en route to a facile, 7 1/2-length score while making his black-type bow. 

Crudo was close to a solid early tempo in the Belmont S. (G1) most recently before retreating in the lane, but the Kentucky-bred has trained well in the interim and looks like controlling speed against this group. He has posted a trio of solid morning drills in preparation for this tilt and will be let loose early by regular pilot John Velazquez. 

Brown’s #3 Strategic Focus (6-5) was DQ’d and placed second in an allowance tilt at the distance on the course on June 6 but earned a whopping 107 Brisnet Speed number in the process. The twice-raced son of Gun Runner has displayed a fine closing kick in each of his pair of runs to date and might just be scratching the surface of his abilities in advance of his stakes debut. The $500,000 chestnut seemingly has no distance limitations and has posted five perfectly spaced morning drills in preparation for this contest, as well. Flavien Prat inherits the ride and will have his mount tracking the leader from the second flight in the early stages of the feature. 

I’m not enamored with the chances of the remaining six contenders in the field and will narrow my focus on the duo mentioned above.