"Let settle this outside. Bring it on."
In the other corner, Team Curlin, a bit smoother around the edges but no less willing to roll up sleeves and wade in, is trainer Steve Asmussen and majority owner Jess Jackson. Asmussen doesn't like synthetic surfaces. Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson Winery, doesn't like anybody to think another horse is better than his.
If this comes off, look for it to go the full 12 rounds . . . er, down to the last furlong.
"Mr. Jackson visited us recently," Charles says, "and when we got to talking about the big matchup, he said, 'They're [Big Brown's people] not going to come here to race us.' I told him that, the only thing certain about this was that they'd be here. He could count on it."
Big Brown is expected to ship to Santa Anita the week of the Breeders' Cup.
Asmussen has sent his main assistant, Scott Blasi, to oversee Curlin's introduction to Santa Anita's synthetics. Hall of Fame Trainer Richard Mandella, who works for Jackson here, is expected to have a hand in the decision too.
Much can happen in the 25 days before race time.
There has been one breakdown during races so far at Oak Tree, which began last Wednesday, and three more during training.
The Curlin team will certainly take note of four horses being put down, but they also know that that, sadly, is close to the norm. Also, according to Charles, trainer Mike Mitchell, whose horse, Jump Through, broke down during racing, did not blame the track.
The usual lazy, hazy days of Oak Tree are anything but.
The champ is in the house, seeing if the ring is bouncy and the ropes are good. The challenger is back East, working out on the heavy bag.
Nothing is set, but when you see an announcement that Santa Anita has hired Bob Arum and Don King as consultants, figure the deal is done.
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Bill Dwyre can be reached at bill.dwyre@latimes.com. For previous columns, go to latimes.com/dwyre.
