The Monday edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal is reporting that trainer Steve Asmussen does not expect Curlin to race again this year. Asmussen told the newspaper, "I don't see anything worthy of him," during a telephone interview.

Curlin's majority owner, Jess Jackson, released a statement over the weekend indicating that the colt will begin his stud career in 2009, but left room for one more start in 2008.

Three names came to dominate the headlines this year: Curlin, Big Brown and Zenyatta.

All three secured themselves at least one Eclipse Award with the only question being, Who is the 2008 Horse of the Year? Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made thoroughbred history in 2008 by becoming the first horse to surpass the $10 million mark in lifetime earnings. The four-year-old colt went past Cigar on the career earnings list with a second straight win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Leparoux won the first six races on Churchill Downs' Tuesday card. He did not have a horse in the sixth race, but came back to win the seventh and eighth races.

After failing to win the ninth race, Leparoux finished second in the final race aboard Sinister, a mount he picked up from Calvin Borel.

Curlin was supposed to win the Classic and secure his second Horse of the Year title.

With a quarter-mile to run the pre-written script was being followed to the letter.

Most people look down on this course of action, especially if done in a way that promotes arrogance, but it does have its place in the game. Astute handicappers usually plow through previous past performances to uncover how a horse was able to win, using speed and/or pace figures, track conditions, class ratings, jockey tactics and every other handicapping method under the sun.

The 2008 version of the Breeders' Cup was run over two days this past weekend with five of the 14 races on Friday. Since nine more championship events were to be run the following day, red boarding that day's card was perhaps the most useful tool in figuring out how to play

Curlin was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the 12 horse field. Raven's Pass, from Europe, was the 6-1 second choice in the morning-line and was 13-1 when the gates opened.

Both Curlin and Raven's Pass settled in off the pace in the 1 1/4 mile Classic.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Conduit was making his first start in North America after racing exclusively in England. The chestnut colt was taken back by Moore in the 11-horse field as Red Rock Canyon set the early pace.

On the final turn 8-5 favorite Soldier of Fortune took the lead with Out of Control close behind.

Racing for just the second time in 2008, Midnight Lute and rider Garrett Gomez broke slowly from the gate in the eight-horse field. Setting the pace up the backstretch was First Defence and Fatal Bullet.

Fatal Bullet took the lead on the final turn as Midnight Lute began his rally. Running down the middle of the track the defender caught Fatal Bullet inside the furlong pole and opened up to the wire.

A field of 12 two-year-olds went postward in the second running of the Juvenile Turf. Taking the lead early was 55-1 longshot Orthodox. Racing in his first stakes, Orthodox led the field up the backstretch and into the far turn.

Dettori had Donativum along the inside on the final turn and angled him outside as the field entered the stretch. Coronet of a Baron had a clear lead with 200 yards to run, but Donativum accelerated down the middle of the stretch to hit the wire first.

It marked Gomez's third Breeders' Cup win of the weekend.

Sent off as the 7-2 co-favorite with Square Eddie, Midshipman took the lead in the Juvenile as the field of 12 entered the clubhouse turn. The two-year-old colt vied for the lead with both Square Eddie and Street Hero.

Goldikova became the fourth female to win the Mile and defeated defending champ Kip Deville in doing so.

Setting the pace in the Mile was Thorn Song with Goldikova stalking the leader from second. Kip Deville was close to the lead in fourth.

Two Step Salsa, a 22-1 longshot, led the 12-horse field for most of the race while Albertus Maximus settled about 10 lengths off the pace. Gomez, who won Friday's Filly & Mare Sprint, rode Albertus Maximus between horses down the stretch to join the leaders with a furlong to go.

The four-year-old colt took the lead with 100 yards to run and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 18-1 longshot Rebellion. Two Step Salsa held on for third with My Pal Charlie finishing fourth.

The time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:11.60 on a firm turf course.

Setting the pace was Mr. Nightlinger and California Flag. Idiot Proof and One Union were racing in third and fourth, respectively, while Desert Code was in the middle of the field.

Muhannak's victory was the first by a European horse in this year's championships.

Ridden by Patrick Smullen, Muhannak was fourth while Booyah set the pace in the 1 1/2 mile event. On the final turn Muhannak ranged up from the outside to join the leaders and assumed the lead at the top of the stretch.

Jockey Mike Smith notched his second Breeders' Cup win on the day.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss, Zenyatta was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the eight-horse field of fillies and mares. She was 10 lengths off the leaders in the 1 1/8-mile race when Smith set her down for the rally.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Forever Together was racing on the outside down the backstretch while Folk Opera set a moderate pace. Nine of the 10 runners were bunched as a group entering the far turn.

Owned by Augustin Stable, Forever Together accelerated around the final turn and caught the leaders in mid-stretch.

Stardom Bound got a slow start in the 13-horse field, but made an eye-catching move on the outside during the turn for home. The filly took the lead at the top of the stretch to collect the $1 million winner's check.

Dream Express finished second followed by 7-2 second choice Sky Diva and longshot Dave's Revenge.

Winner of the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park, Maram made a late surge down the stretch to catch the front-running 5-2 favorite Laragh. Heart Shaped, with jockey John Murtagh, came charging down the lane to nearly catch Maram at wire.

Laragh finished third and Saucey Evening was fourth in the 12-filly field.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Ventura was ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Bobby Frankel. The four-year-old filly took the lead from Indian Blessing, the 9-5 favorite, with about 200 yards to run.

Ventura registered a four-length victory over last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly champ with Zaftig, the 5-1 third pick, finishing third in the 13 horse field.

A record nine Breeders' Cup events will be run this Saturday with two of the three new races - the Marathon and the Turf Sprint - opening the card followed by the second running of the Dirt Mile. With a host of betting opportunities ahead, let's take an in-depth look at each of the nine.

MARATHON Even though this race will be run on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface, there are a handful of turf horses that could be in line for the winner's share of the $500,000 purse.

"He is still fresh after the five-furlong work here yesterday and happy,' said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Hidetoshi Yamamoto.

Tada said that trainer Kazuo Fujisawa is scheduled to arrive from Japan today and will be here to supervise Casino Drive?s training Friday for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

"He is still fresh after the five-furlong work here yesterday and happy,' said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Hidetoshi Yamamoto.

Tada said that trainer Kazuo Fujisawa is scheduled to arrive from Japan today and will be here to supervise Casino Drive?s training Friday for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

I will not attempt to handicap each of the 14 races that will be conducted on Friday and Saturday, and I never pick the two-year-old races, which now number four.

However, this website does have Breeders' Cup selections available from four of our most intelligent handicappers, including myself. Use these picks cautiously, but with expected multiple cashin' not trashin' Starting with the big race, $5 million Classic at 1 1/4 miles. Defending champ Curlin is 7-5 in the program and if he goes off at that price it will be a steal.

The centerpiece of Saturday's action is the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic highlighted by Curlin, the richest thoroughbred in racing history, and Duke of Marmalade, winner of five Group 1 races this year in Europe. Big Brown would have been one of the favorites, but the Kentucky Derby champion injured his right front foot in a workout earlier this month and has been retired.

Last year's Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park was dominated by the w

Defending Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin has been made the 7-5 favorite for the race with regular rider Robby Albarado getting the mount. The pair will break from post nine in the 12-horse field. Last year the colt won the $5 million Classic by 4 1/2 lengths over another three-year-old, Hard Spun.

Friday will feature the five races restricted to females, highlighted by the $2 million Ladies' Classic, previously known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff. First post on Friday will be 3:35 p.m. (et) and 1:10 p.m. (et) on Saturday.