ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -Curlin ran a half-mile in 52.80 seconds Monday in his first official workout on Santa Anita's synthetic surface under the watchful eye of trainer Steve Asmussen.

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It was the first timed workout for the reigning Horse of the Year since he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at New York's Belmont Park on Sept. 27 and became thoroughbred racing's all-time money winning horse with more than $10 million.

``He looked around quite a bit,'' Asmussen said. ``It'll be interesting the next time he gets on the track. We just wanted to put his mind at ease and let him do all the acclimating.''

Curlin, who was shipped to the southern California track on Sept. 28, is under consideration to defend his title in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita, depending on how he adapts to the new Pro-Ride surface.

``I don't think there was any decision to be made today,'' Asmussen said. ``We're going to show Curlin the patience he deserves and we're going to do what we think is right.''

This year's Breeders' Cup will be run for the first time on a synthetic surface, and the Classic would be Curlin's first race on such a surface.

``For those people that like synthetic surfaces, that's great,'' said Asmussen, who is not a fan of artificial surfaces. ``I don't care. I care what Curlin thinks of the surface.''

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is set to run in the Classic, along with some of Europe's top horses.