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By Kentucky Downs media team
FRANKLIN, Ky. (Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025) – On paper, there was a tall order being asked of Flatten the Curve (FR) at this point in his veteran career.
The son of Zarak (FR), who has been competing since 2022, was making his third transatlantic trip in three months, having gone from his base in Germany to Saratoga Race Course and back again before ultimately arriving at Kentucky Downs to take aim at one of its plethora of seven-figure prizes. As the chestnut gelding stretched his legs in the final furlongs of the 2 1/16-miles Mountain Dew Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Saturday, however, he showed why handling logistics is just another aspect of his job he makes look sublime.
The European stylings of the Kentucky Downs course and the route of ground he was asked to travel all allowed for Flatten the Curve to feel every bit at home during his time in Franklin, Ky. The 6-year-old marathoner overwhelmed his five other challengers en route to a 5 ½-length victory in the $1 million Gold Cup Invitational, one of five stakes on a blockbuster card at Kentucky Downs.
Owned by Eckhard Sauren and trained by Henk Grewe, Flatten the Curve prevailed in his return trip to North America. His first venture stateside was on June 6 when he finished fourth in an off-the-turf edition of the Belmont Gold Cup (G3). After returning to Germany to score in the Langer Hamburger Stakes last month, the lure of the Kentucky Downs purse money, coupled with race conditions that figured to suit the copper-colored gelding, prompted Grewe to put his charge back on a plane in hopes of getting a suitable prep for another potential international venture.
“He’s an unbelievable horse. He came to our stable last year and since then the only time he lost was in Saratoga when they changed it to the dirt,” Grewe said. “He was really relaxed because the pace was good. We wanted to follow the favorite (Limited Liability) with Frankie Dettori. We had the perfect race. In the stretch it was so easy, it was perfect. Very proud. It was my first win outside of Europe. It’s something special for me.
“I think we go now to the Melbourne Cup (on Nov. 4).”
In his 41st career start, Flatten the Curve flaunted the intangibles that have allowed him to win five of his last six outings since coming into Grewe’s care. Under confident handling from jockey Thore Hammer Hansen , Flatten the Curve bided his time in an outside path at the back the field, tracking the steps of the favorite and defending race winner Limited Liability while pacesetter Goldeneye led the bunch past the judges for the first time.
“They went pretty slow. I expected them to go a better pace, but saying that, I always had it in the back of my mind, because there was a couple of horses I wasn’t certain were going to stay this trip,” said Hammer Hansen, who earned his first win in North America. “I was always hopeful that the pace was going to pick up. He just jumped into the bridle a little bit, but he switches off nicely after a couple of furlongs, and that’s what he did today.”
That patient mindset from Hammer Hansen held strong as he allowed his partner to edge his way up to fourth and ultimately range up alongside Limited Liability to the inside as Goldeneye continued his frontrunning ways. At the top the stretch, Flatten the Curve left his rivals flailing for minor honors as he cantered up past the earlier leaders, drawing off with enough ease that Hammer Hansen indulged himself a peak over his left shoulder before coasting to the wire in a final time of 3:29.58 over firm going.
“I expected him to win, to be honest. I always have great faith in this horse,” Hammer Hansen said. “He’s my favorite. He’s been ultra-tough for us ever since he went to Henk Grewe. If you take away the dirt race at Saratoga, that wasn’t really planned, he’s still unbeaten for us. Very tough horse. I expected him to win here, but the way he did it I didn’t expect that.
“He’s proved us every single time that he can get better again. I think this is probably his best performance today, and it was great.”
Tawny Port, a graded-stakes winner on dirt, ran on for second with Limited Liability third. Goldeneye, San Siro, and Balladeer completed the order of finish.
Sent off at 2-1 odds, Flatten the Curve rewarded his backers with $6.20 to win while improving his career mark to eight wins from 41 outings with a career bankroll of $586,388. As a French-bred, Flatten the Curve was racing for $500,000 instead of the full $1 million purse – although the spoils were more than enough for his team to savor.
“It’s much better than in Europe,” Grewe said.
Coady Media photos below
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