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?
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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. 
