Curlin takes Horse of the Year honors

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Curlin, a chestnut colt who captured the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic and the Preakness Stakes, has been named the U.S.'s Horse of the Year, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) said on Monday.

With Robby Albarado in the irons, Curlin took the Eclipse Award, cemented by a 4 1/2-length victory in the $5 million Classic last October at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey.

The Smart Strike colt has six victories in nine career starts and has won more than $5.1 million in prize money. Curlin was also named three-year-old male Horse of the Year.

Garrett Gomez claimed the Eclipse Award as Jockey of the Year and Trainer of the Year honors went to Todd Pletcher.

The three-year-old Filly of the Year when to Rag to Riches, who in June became only the third filly to win the Belmont Stakes and the first since Tanya in 1905.

Members of the NTRA, the Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association vote to determine winners of the Eclipse Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington, editing by Martin Petty)