The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes (Post time is 5:25 PM EDT this Saturday) at Belmont Park just outside of New York City, represents the biggest happening in thoroughbred horse racing since 2004 when Smarty Jones took a shot at history. He raced for the holy grail of American horse racing, the Triple Crown, but it wasn’t to be Smarty Jones’ day as a 36 to 1 long shot (Birdstone) overtook Smarty and won by a length. The last Triple Crown winner was thirty years ago. Since then there have been many wonderful horses win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes only to come up short in the Belmont Stakes. This race is the longest at a mile and a half, and those extra few yards can make all the difference. This is the endurance race...
Secretariat's Statue at Belmont Park Paddocks
Since 1905 there have been only eleven horses win the Triple Crown and now we have the pleasure of watching perhaps the best horse to come along in all these thirty years since Affirmed dueled Alydar to become the last winner of this storied title. Big Brown literally came out of nowhere to challenge for the title this year.
Big Brown working out this week.
Here is Big Brown’s auction and racing history:
Auction History
Year Sale Price
2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale $60,000
2007 Keeneland April Two-Year Olds in Training $190,000
Racing History
Date Race Name Distance Finish Earnings
05/17/08 Preakness (gr. I) 9.5 f 1 $600,000
05/03/08 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) 10f 1 $1,451,800
03/29/08 Florida Derby (gr. I) 9f 1 $600,000
03/05/08 Allowance 8f 1 $24,900
09/03/07 MSW 8.5f 1 $37,800
Record: 5 Starts, 5-0-0 | Total Earnings: $2,714,500
I’ll delve into where the real money will come from later in this article, but suffice to say, the race purses are only a drop in the old feed bag…
One Confidant Trainer
Trainer Rick Dutrow is making promises ala Joe Willie Namath or Muhammad Ali…
Dutrow has stated Big Brown’s winning of the Belmont Stakes is a “foregone conclusion”. In another interview the trainer was quoted as saying “These horses (the Belmont rivals) just cannot run with Big Brown…”
There are those who are not sold on Big Brown with some calling Dutrow’s words disrespectful, but in this day of media hype it’s just what is needed by this struggling industry to revitalize fan interest. Like one columnist writes; ‘Which would you rather have, the clichés coming at you like Crash Davis’ Bull Durham philosophy or Dutrow doing some trash talking?’ Trash talking every time!
In a pre Belmont race conference call for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Dutrow responded to a question about getting excited with the race approaching, "I know that when that day actually does come, and if our horse is in good shape, it will be the most exciting, thrilling moment of my life. So I just ... I know that that's coming, but right now I'm just staying involved with our horse and what we think is best to get him there the right way and it keeps us plenty busy."
In an interview with Jim Rome today Dutrow was asked if he could envision any scenario that Big Brown might lose under. Without hesitation the burley trainer stated, “There is no way in the world. He (Big Brown) will dominate all his rivals in this race.”
A Quarter Crack
There has been a lot of hullabaloo over a crack that appeared in Big Brown’s left foreleg hoof. This type of problem is not uncommon among horses and requires attention so that the hoof damage won’t open a wound above the hoof where infection creating an abscess is the real concern. Since the problem was noticed over a week ago, the hoof has been kept as clean as possible and the crack was sutured with stainless steel staples. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been involved with the treatment every step of the way. Friday the hoof will receive a protective acrylic patch covering which will stay in place until after the race. Tuesday, Big Brown was on the track for his first speed run since the injury was noticed. There was a huge sigh of relief from everyone involved with this colt as his workout was termed “flawless” with no problems foreseen as race day approaches. McKinlay was sure to say that Big Brown is in no pain whatsoever. Trainer Dutrow, oozing nothing but positive vibes stated of Big Brown, “He’s ready to do something. It’s time. He knows it. So, we’ll let him do it.”
Big Brown was supposed to only walk the barn on Wednesday, jog on Thursday and gallop of Friday…
The Loyal Opposition
So with all the attention given to Big Brown, it’s almost as if there won’t be any real competition for him come Saturday. Well, there will actually be nine other thoroughbreds that will line up against the favorite. Of these, the biggest threat to Big Brown is supposed to be Casino Drive who is currently has 7 – 2 odds to win. Here is a short biography on this challenger from Bloodhorse.com and equineline.com:
Casino Drive
Much has been made of Casino Drive since his Japanese connections decided a few months ago to ship the colt from the Orient specifically with the Belmont (gr. I) in mind. His one race in Japan was a ridiculously easy score at 1-5 against an overmatched group of maidens on Feb. 23. With two siblings, Jazil and Rags to Riches, winning the Belmont, he was brought to New York in an attempt to continue the streak. He looked sharp prepping in the Peter Pan (gr. II), winning easily in what was an admittedly weak renewal of the race. It will be a lot to ask for him to go the 12 furlongs in only his third lifetime start, especially facing the budding superstar Big Brown, but at the least his pedigree says he is not without hope.
Record: 2 Starts, 2-0-0 | Total Earnings: $185,282
The next closest competitor according to the experts is Denis of Cork with 12 – 1 odds. This horse finished third in the Kentucky Derby and has been working at Churchill Downs along with Macho Again (20 – 1), another horse that was in the Derby field. Denis of Cork’s Trainer David Carroll was beaming after his horse worked a solid half-mile to wrap up his serious preparation for the rematch with Big Brown. “I was very, very happy with what I saw today,” said Carroll. “Robby (exercise rider) was very careful not to go too fast early. He’s very deceiving. He can go fast because he covers a lot of ground, so he was under wraps the last eighth. He just let his head out and he just immediately accelerated, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. We’re excited.”
Tale of Ekati
Besides Macho Again, who was runner-up to Big Brown in the Derby, the Derby’s fourth place finisher, Tale of Ekati is also currently a 20 – 1 favorite to win the Belmont.
When asked about the rest of the Belmont field, Rick Dutrow spouted, “This horse has got good karma. No matter what you throw at him, he’s going to be ready.”
In the Derby, pre-race favorite Big Brown drew the 20th post. There hadn’t been a Kentucky Derby winner run from that post position in over 80 years until Big Brown won by over four lengths while running on the outside for the whole race. In the Preakness Stakes, Big Brown raced from the middle of the post positions, jumped to the lead and held the rail for the rest of the race. In Saturday’s third leg of the Triple Crown, Big Brown will start from the first post position, on the cherished rail as he attempts to become only the 12th horse to win the jewel of horse racing. Here are the post draws:
Horse (Jockey, Odds):
1. Big Brown (Kent Desormeaux, 2-5)
2. Guadalcanal (Javier Castellano, 50-1)
3. Macho Again (Garrett Gomez, 20-1)
4. Denis of Cork (Robby Albarado, 12-1)
5. Casino Drive (Edgar Prado, 7-2)
6. Da’Tara (Alan Garcia, 30-1)
7. Tale of Ekati (Eibar Coa, 20-1)
8. Anak Nakal (Julien Leparoux, 30-1)
9. Ready’s Echo (John Velazquez, 30-1)
10. Icabad Crane (Jeremy Rose, 20-1)
New Equine Hospital at Belmont Park
Ruffian
We were all very sorry about the misfortunate accident that claimed Eight Belles immediately following last month’s Kentucky Derby. It brought back memories to many long-time thoroughbred racing fans of another fantastic filly that met with a similar fate back in the 1970s. Ruffian was one of the fastest fillies to come along at that time. She raced with the same never give up ferocity we saw in Eight Belles. International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc., otherwise known as IEAH Stables, one of the five owners of Big Brown, is funding the construction of the Ruffian Equine Medical Center at Belmont Park. This is in part being done as a tribute to Eight Belles as well. The 23,000 square foot facility will cost approximately $16 million. Hopefully the type of medical care available in a setting such as this will save horses in the future…
Will We See History? A Look Back
Only eleven horses have won all three of these coveted trophies…
Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes Trophies
In what is probably the most difficult task in a race horse’s career, they must master three races that occur over a five week period. Each race is held at a different track, in a different atmosphere and at longer distances than most have previously run. There have been 44 horses that have come close, winning the Derby and the Preakness only to have the longest of the three races #### glory from their grasp.
Birdstone runs past Smarty Jones in 2004
Secretariat by 31 lengths and Seattle Slew!
Here are the eleven that hold the title “Triple Crown Winner”:
YEAR NAME JOCKEY
1919 Sir Barton H.G. Bedwell
1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande
1935 Omaha William Saunders
1937 War Admiral Charley Kurtsinger
1941 Whirlaway Eddie Arcaro
1943 Count Fleet John Longden
1946 Assault Warren Mehrtens
1948 Citation Eddie Arcaro
1973 Secretariat Ron Turcorte
1977 Seattle Slew Jean Cruguet
1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen
A Look at the Real Money…
James Tagliaferri owns TAG Virgin Islands. This company is the real money behind Big Brown and his owner, International Equine Acquisitions Holdings. Although Tagliaferri stays in the background while I.E.A.H. co-president Michael Iavarone is the front man, it is Tagliaferri and his clients who have invested $25 million in I.E.A.H. in return for a 60 percent stake. If Big Brown wins on Saturday, his stud fees alone could amount to $120 million. Next we’ll see a merchandising blitz that will make the connection to United Parcel Service look miniscule. Don’t be surprised to see Big Brown Beanie Babies, ball caps and who knows what else… Maybe some of the most expensive garden manure the world has ever seen. A true accounting of the value of this horse when it’s all said and done will be astounding…
What about the Weather?
Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park is forecast to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of precipitation. The temperature should be in the high 80s at race time with 57% humidity and a slight southerly breeze. Sounds like fine conditions at this time!
* * * * *
In recent times, the duel between the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, and his nemesis, Alydar, is the stuff of legends. These two raced to a total of two full lengths difference in these three races. Affirmed’s largest victory was by a length and a half in the Kentucky Derby. He then defeated Alydar by a neck in both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
Will Big Brown, while attempting to become only the second undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, find a genuine challenger in the 140th Belmont Stakes?
The Preakness Stakes, to be run this coming Saturday with a post time of 6:15 PM EST, initially appeared to have a much smaller field than the Kentucky Derby’s twenty horses. Today the field may have as many as thirteen participants. Right after the undefeated Derby winner Big Brown’s convincing pull away victory, almost all of the other Derby contenders were going to bypass the Preakness Stakes and move on to greener pastures, so to speak. Then it appeared that two Derby horses would be entered in Pimlico’s Preakness Stakes after all. Harlem Rocker and Recapturetheglory were going to be entered, but Harlem Rocker’s trainer Todd Pletcher, pulled the colt in favor of the Canadian Triple Crown while Recapturetheglory came down with a fever and was scratched. Today it appears that only one of the other 19 horses entered in the Derby may challenge Big Brown. ####ego finished a disappointing 17th in the Derby after getting off to a slow start and then had to be steadied in traffic. Trainer Paulo Lobo stated that the colt never got back into the race after his early troubles. Lobo is working out ####ego in Southern California this morning and will announce his intentions later today.
Race day weather is currently forecast to be around 66 degrees with a 20% chance of showers...
Here is a look at the tentative Preakness Stakes field as it stands today from theonlinewire.com (presented alphabetically with May 12th odds):
Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
Behindatthebar T. Pletcher D R Flores 12/1
Big Brown R. Dutrow Jr. K. Desormeaux 3/10
Giant Moon R. Schosberg J F Chavez 25/1
Hey Byrn E. Plesa, Jr. C. C. Lopez 20/1
Icabad Crane H. G. Motion J. Rose 50/1
Kentucky Bear R. Bake J. Theriot 25/1
Macho Again D. Stewart Undecided 20/1
Racecar Rhapsody K. McPeek R. Albarado 50/1
Riley Tucker W. Mott E. Prado 50/1
Stevil N. Zito J. Velazquez 50/1
Tres Borrachos B. Greely T. Baze 50/1
Yankee Bravo P. Gallagher A. Solis 25/1
According to Monday’s odds, Behindthebar should give Big Brown the most difficulty. This horse won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19th in a come from behind performance winning by a length. Other horses thought to be possible challengers to Big Brown are Hey Byrn (Winner of the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in April. This was a mile and three sixteenths race on dirt.), and Macho Again (won the Derby Trial, a one mile dirt race one week before the Kentucky Derby). Both of these horses are standing at 20 to 1 right now. Then there are the 25 to 1 horses that include Giant Moon (A New York horse that has experienced ups and downs this year but is in the running for New York-bred two year old champion of 2007), Kentucky Bear (Came in third in his most recent test in the Blue Grass but is thought to be in good form for this race. Kentucky Bear is the only Preakness entrant that has been at Pimlico for the last few days.) and Yankee Bravo (This horse won his first three starts and then had problems in the Louisiana Derby where he finished third. Yankee Bravo then finished fourth at the Santa Anita Derby while wearing blinkers for the first time. Trainer Paddy Gallagher said “I put them (the blinkers) on for his last race because he kind of ducked out in Louisiana.”). Is there a legitimate challenger to Big Brown in this field?
Kentucky Bear working out this week at Pimlico.
* * * * *
Have you ever thought about the three tracks that host the American Triple Crown races?
Here are the track layouts:
Churchill Downs
Main Track: One Mile, oval. Turf Course: Seven-eighths Mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,234.5 Feet.
Pimlico
Main Track: One Mile, oval. Turf Course: Seven Furlongs. Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,152 Feet.
Belmont Park
Main Track: One and one-half Mile, oval. Widener Turf: One and 5/16 Miles, 27 Feet. Inner Turf: One and 3/16 Miles, 103 Feet. Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,097 Feet.
Churchill Downs and Pimlico are equal distance at one mile. Simple, yes? Well the Pimlico track actually has slightly longer straightaways when compared to Churchill Downs. Why is this significant? It means the two turns are narrower giving horses running on the rail a slight advantage, that’s the obvious difference. Then there's also a slightly more difficult time for some horses to maintain their pace on the tighter turns… Add this together and the horses that have to start from an outside post position could be in trouble before the race ever begins. As the field continues to grow, the outside post positions get further from the all-important rail.
The post position drawing will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at which time we’ll know where the favorites will start this race.
* * * * *
The Baltimore Sun had a piece yesterday comparing the atmosphere between the Kentucky Derby to their hometown Preakness Stakes. Apparently the Preakness is best described as the anti-Derby. For all the pomp and circumstance involved with Louisville’s Churchill Downs Derby crowd, the well-dressed high society gathering with their mint juleps, toasting the horses, Pimlico’s Preakness crowd is appropriately characterized by Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”. I guess it’s the difference between Red Roses and Black-Eyed Susans… Preakness week is in full swing now as the horses are beginning to arrive at the track to get familiar with their new digs.
Here's a taste of Preakness Week in Baltimore
Anything Goes! On the Pimlico Infield...
The Preakness Parade:
"Precious" and her 2004 Black-Eyed Susan Float!
The 2008 Preakness Art Contest Winners!
* * * * *
Taking Advantage of Big Brown…
The management with United Parcel Service, also known as UPS and more commonly as “Big Brown” has decided to make the natural connection with the Kentucky Derby winner also known by that name. Big Brown’s part owner Paul Pompa Jr. named the horse in honor of UPS, a client of his trucking business. UPS announced last Friday that they had struck a marketing agreement with Big Brown’s owners as well as with the horse’s jockey Kent Desormeaux. Look for the UPS logo during both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
So Why All the Competition?
If Big Brown is such a favorite, why is there suddenly so many new challengers? The Preakness purse stands at $1 million and with a purse this size the second and third place winners will pick up somewhere around $300,000 and $100,000 respectively, and that will buy a lot of hay! The Preakness field, with the exception of Big Brown, is pretty much even concerning their chances to win. If Big Brown stumbles or “bounces” then one of these other horses stands to make a big payday with other revenue generating considerations down the road as a Preakness Champion.
Over 112,000 horse race fans will be in attendance Saturday at Pimlico and a nationwide television audience will see what Big Brown can do… Many speculate that this horse is still in development and that his best may still be in front of him. The level of excitement is starting to rise!
Curlin wins by a nose over Derby winner Street Sense in the 2007 Preakness Stakes
I hope you have enjoyed this look at the upcoming Preakness Stakes.
What’s going on with the Preakness Stakes just over a week away?
Big Brown getting his bath... Look at his height!
Looks like Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby Champion, stands ready to compete in the second leg of American Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. According to trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., the stallion came out of last Saturday’s Derby in the best shape he’s seen him since he took over as the horse’s trainer a couple of months back. If there is any downside in Dutrow’s confidence, it stems from the two week hiatus between races. He’s concerned that it just isn’t enough time to rest his charge, but this is the nature of the Triple Crown.
The Preakness field could be less than half the 20-horse traffic jam Big Brown navigated to win the Derby. That's fine by Dutrow, who is confident the colt can handle whatever the field throws at him.
"I'd rather be in our spot than a fresh horse coming into the race that doesn't have the talent that ours has got," he said.
Are there any potential Preakness challengers to Big Brown in Dutrow’s eyes? He has spoken highly of Harlem Rocker which awaits clearance to race at Pimlico…
Here is the New York Post’s look at the potential Preakness field and the pre-race odds as of yesterday:
Derby also ran, Recapturetheglory, which finished fifth behind Big Brown, will be on hand to compete in the Preakness Stakes. The horse’s co-owner, Ronnie Lamarque, had another Derby horse twenty years ago that finished in third. Undiscouraged by that horse’s Derby finish, Risen Star was brought to Pimlico where he not only won the Preakness, but followed this by winning the Belmont. Lamarque hopes to duplicate that run again this year with Recapturetheglory…
The beautiful filly, Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby...
Eight Belles’ trainer Larry Jones had finally had enough. After four days of harsh criticism, Jones unleashed his pent up emotions as he defended jockey Gabriel Saez and addressed the PETA crowd that made claims that Eight Belles had been hurt during the race and that Saez should be held responsible…
Jones stated: "It's bad enough we lost the horse. These people saying we messed it up make it worse. When PETA started, it's heart was in the right place," he said, his voice boiling over, "but it's gone from good intentions to using tragedy to raise funds. Not at my expense! Not one of them called to say they're sorry. I'm as much of an expert on PETA as they are on horseracing, because they know nothing."
Jones also spoke about some guy talking on a radio show who said the only way a filly can compete with colts is if she's pumped up on steroids. "What a ####. I have not given one cc of anabolic steroids to a horse since 1997, when they found out what damage steroids can do."
Insisting that Eight Belles' necropsy include a test for steroids to put an end to this speculation, Jones then turned his attention to an anonymous Internet posting that claimed Eight Belles' front ankles were injected before the race.
"She never had a joint injected since she was in my care," Jones said. "I'm as anti-injecting as any trainer out there. There was no issue with this horse. I don't have anything to hide, and I don't like being accused of that. It makes me sick that some people want other people to believe that (garbage)."
Jones is heartened by the fact that many have rallied to his support.
"A lot of my fellow horsemen called to assure me we didn't do anything wrong," he said. As for Saez, "Some really good jockeys called to say 'we're going to defend this kid.' "
I think we all agree that what happened to Eight Belles was a terrible tragedy. It’s too bad the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals finds it necessary to line their pockets at the expense of sad circumstances such as this. Not one of them expressed condolences to the horse’s owner or trainer?
In a related story, Eight Belles owner, Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms, has approved the sale of wrist bands manufactured in memory of Eight Belles with the proceeds to benefit the Midlantic Horse Rescue. The bands will cost $5.00 and be made of red silicon and embossed with Eight Belles’ name. If you’re interested, checks or money orders should be made to Midatlantic Horse Rescue, and mailed to Fox Hill Farm, P.O. Box 24255, Lexington, KY 40524.
Fox Hill Farm will pay packaging and postage on all orders.
Big Brown's reaction to whether another horse will challenge him at Pimlico..That's a horse laugh, folks!
We’ll look forward to a sunny day and a fast track at Pimlico on Saturday, May 17th!
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
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shot at history. He raced for the holy grail of American horse racing, the Triple Crown, but it wasn’t to be Smarty Jones’ day as a 36 to 1 long shot (Birdstone) overtook Smarty and won by a length. The last Triple Crown winner was thirty years ago. Since then there have been many wonderful horses win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes only to come up short in the Belmont Stakes. This race is the longest at a mile and a half, and those extra few yards can make all the difference. This is the endurance race... 
attention so that the hoof damage won’t open a wound above the hoof where infection creating an abscess is the real concern. Since the problem was noticed over a week ago, the hoof has been kept as clean as possible and the crack was sutured with stainless steel staples. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been involved with the treatment every step of the way. Friday the hoof will receive a protective acrylic patch covering which will stay in place until after the race. Tuesday, Big Brown was on the track for his first speed run since the injury was noticed. There was a huge sigh of relief from everyone involved with this colt as his workout was termed “flawless” with no problems foreseen as race day approaches. McKinlay was sure to say that Big Brown is in no pain whatsoever. Trainer Dutrow, oozing nothing but positive vibes stated of Big Brown, “He’s ready to do something. It’s time. He knows it. So, we’ll let him do it.”
Much has been made of Casino Drive since his Japanese connections decided a few months ago to ship the colt from the Orient specifically with the Belmont (gr. I) in mind. His one race in Japan was a ridiculously easy score at 1-5 against an overmatched group of maidens on Feb. 23. With two siblings, Jazil and Rags to Riches, winning the Belmont, he was brought to New York in an attempt to continue the streak. He looked sharp prepping in the Peter Pan (gr. II), winning easily in what was an admittedly weak renewal of the race. It will be a lot to ask for him to go the 12 furlongs in only his third lifetime start, especially facing the budding superstar Big Brown, but at the least his pedigree says he is not without hope. 
odds. This horse finished third in the Kentucky Derby and has been working at Churchill Downs along with Macho Again (20 – 1), another horse that was in the Derby field. Denis of Cork’s Trainer David Carroll was beaming after his horse worked a solid half-mile to wrap up his serious preparation for the rematch with Big Brown. “I was very, very happy with what I saw today,” said Carroll. “Robby (exercise rider) was very careful not to go too fast early. He’s very deceiving. He can go fast because he covers a lot of ground, so he was under wraps the last eighth. He just let his head out and he just immediately accelerated, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. We’re excited.” 
Besides Macho Again, who was runner-up to Big Brown in the Derby, the Derby’s fourth place finisher, Tale of Ekati is also currently a 20 – 1 favorite to win the Belmont. 
other Derby contenders were going to bypass the Preakness Stakes and move on to greener pastures, so to speak. Then it appeared that two Derby horses would be entered in Pimlico’s Preakness Stakes after all. Harlem Rocker and Recapturetheglory were going to be entered, but Harlem Rocker’s trainer Todd Pletcher, pulled the colt in favor of the Canadian Triple Crown while Recapturetheglory came down with a fever and was scratched. Today it appears that only one of the other 19 horses entered in the Derby may challenge Big Brown. 
