Elmont, NY (My Sportsbook) - Red Rocks, ridden by Javier Castellano, held off odds-on favorite Curlin down the stretch to win Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 3/8 mile turf race was the first start for Curlin on grass.

Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, made the switch to the turf with the eventual goal of running in the Prix de Larc de Triomphe on Sunday, October 5 at Longchamps Racecourse in Paris.

"Well, I just think the Arc is one of the greatest races in the world," stated trainer Steve Asmussen during a conference call earlier in the week, "and we're hoping to prove Curlin is one of the greatest horses in the world. This is a very unique situation. You know we're thinking about turf and the Arc. I think that that's pretty tall thinking in its own right, so let's not kid ourselves before we go."

Setting the pace in the Man o' War were Mission Approved and Sudan. The pair sprinted away from the rest of the seven-horse field into the clubhouse turn as they opened a lead of almost 10 lengths.

Running in second up the backstretch was Red Rocks with Curlin and jockey Robby Albarado in fourth. With a half-mile to run Red Rocks and Curlin both began to make their moves toward the leaders. Coming off the final turn Sudan had taken the lead as Red Rocks and Curlin drew within a couple of lengths.

At the top of the stretch Red Rocks went past Sudan with Curlin on the outside taking over second. In mid-stretch, Red Rocks valiantly held off the 2-5 favorite. Curlin could not cut into the leader's advantage as Red Rocks went on to post a two-length victory over the best racehorse in the world.

Better Talk Now, the 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf champ, finished third followed by Sudan, True Cause, Grand Couturier and Mission Approved.

The time for the 49th Man o' War Stakes was 2:12.60 on a firm turf course.

Red Rocks, in only his third race in the United States, is owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Brian Meehan. The five-year-old had not been to America since a third-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf. In 2006 he won the Breeders' Cup Turf over Better Talk Now.

Saturday's win was worth $300,000 to bring Red Rocks' career bankroll to more than $2.8 million. He has won six of 19 lifetime starts.

Red Rocks returned $14.40, $4.00 and $2.90. Curlin paid $2.50 and $2.10, and Better Talk Now paid 2.70 to show. The loss for Curlin snapped a five race win streak that included the Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup.

The Man o' War was moved from Belmont Park's Fall Championship Meet to the spring this year to create better spacing among the Grade 1 turf races in New York through the summer and fall.