In his final prep for Saturday’s 55th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward at Saratoga Race Course, 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin breezed a half-mile in 49.14 Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas.

Clockers caught the four-year-old chestnut colt in splits of 13.01 and 24.98, galloping out in 1:04. The move was the fourth fastest of 25 at the distance.

“He went really well, it was a nice, smooth half,” said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. “We’re all excited about Saturday.”

Curlin, who carries the colors of Jess Jackson’s Stonerside Stable, will jog tomorrow, have a light gallop Wednesday and be schooled in the gate on Thursday, said Blasi. Last Thursday, during the running of the third race, Curlin drew a sizeable crowd as he was schooled in the paddock.

“Wherever it is, when he walks in, people notice,” said Blasi. “The more seasoned he becomes, the more he plays to it.”

Curlin, who has been stabled at Saratoga the past two summers, will be making his 10th Grade 1 start in the nine-furlong Woodward. After summering at Saratoga last year, he won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in the fall.

“[Being at Saratoga] was a big contribution to how he performed last year going into the fall and the Breeders’ Cup,” said Blasi. “Horses just do well up here. Oklahoma is a very good surface and we’re fortunate to train over it.”

Also expected for the Woodward are Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Divine Park, Grade 2 winner A.P. Arrow, and recent Saratoga winners Past the Point and Wanderin Boy. Merchant Marine, a rough-trip sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney earlier this meet, is also a possibility.