Curlin romps at Churchill Downs

One week after Big Brown’s meltdown in New York, Curlin went about his business as usual.

The world’s best horse won his fifth in a row, toying with nine rivals in his return to the U.S. in the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Showing no ill effects from his trip to the United Arab Emirates, which included a 7 3/4 -length score in the $6-million Dubai World Cup, Curlin relaxed behind a slow pace for most of the trip, angled out for room in the stretch and drew away under regular jockey Robby Albarado.

Carrying top weight of 128 pounds, which means he spotted 10 to 15 to his opponents, the 4-year-old Smart Strike colt won for the ninth time in 12 starts. He completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.68 for majority owner Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Perfect since finishing third as the 9-10 choice in the Haskell Invitational Handicap last Aug. 5 at Monmouth Park, Curlin banked $589,000 for his Foster success and now has $9,396,800 in career earnings. He remains third on the all-time list in North America behind Cigar and Skip Away.

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Although he had to settle for fourth on Grasshopper in the Foster, jockey Garrett Gomez had a huge day in Louisville.

Gomez won three of the other five graded stakes, taking the $300,000 Fleur De Lis with Hystericalady, the $200,000 Jefferson Cup with Tizdejavu and the $150,000 Mint Julep with Dreaming Of Anna.

The other stakes winners were Pure Clan in the $200,000 Regret and Pyro in the $175,000 Northern Dancer.

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Cedar Mountain has found a home on the Hollywood Park turf course.

A little more than five weeks after a four-length win going 12 furlongs against optional claimers, the long-winded gelding was dominant once more versus stronger company.

Ridden by Alonso Quinonez, the Irish-bred son of Galileo relished 1 3/4 miles in the $76,750 Round Table Handicap in Inglewood. Owned by breeder George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable and trained by Neil Drysdale, Cedar Mountain, the 5-2 second choice, is now two for four since coming to the U.S. last year.

Transduction Gold finished second and 13-10 favorite Porfido was third.

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Jockey Rafael Bejarano made a successful trip to Belmont Park, winning the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap with favored Ginger Punch. Second in the Grade I a year ago, the 5-year-old Awesome Again mare, who was the 2007 champion older female, now has 10 wins in 18 starts for owner-breeder Frank Stronach and trainer Bobby Frankel.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com