A Kentucky judge denied a motion July 10 requesting a forced sale of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, a decision that was applauded by majority owner Stonestreet Stables, which clearly stated it has no desire to sell its part of the champion horse.

Judge Roger Crittenden denied the request during a hearing at Franklin County Circuit Court, rejecting a plea from plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit that includes as defendants Curlin’s minority owners, suspended attorneys Shirley Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion.

Crittenden ruled the motion to force a partition sale filed by plaintiffs’ attorney Angela M. Ford was inappropriate at this juncture of the case, which has already seen a $42-million judgment awarded for the role the defendants played in alleged mishandling of a class-action settlement in the high-profile fen-phen trial.

“The motion is premature,” Crittenden said about an hour into the 90-minute hearing. “The plaintiffs are not the appropriate people to bring this motion at the present time