Thoroughbred Fever - Horse Racing News

Da’ Tara and Nick Zito extend Triple Crown drought; Big Brown last

by Jarrod Horak on June 7th, 2008

Da’ Tara, under a heady ride by Alan Garcia, seized control from the outset and proceeded to pull off a surprising 5-1/4 length wire job in the 140th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

The win gave Nick Zito his 2nd Belmont Stakes victory, and both times he foiled Triple Crown bids. The other was Birdstone over Smarty Jones in 2004.

The reasonable splits were 23.82, 48.30, 1:12.90, 1:37.96, 2:03.21, and 2:29.65. The longshot winner earned $600,000 and paid $79.

As for overbet favorite Big Brown, I did not expect him to complete his task given the historical trends, but coming up totally empty and being eased turning for home was a shocker.

I have no idea why the son of Boundary ran so poorly. Maybe it was a combination of his quarter crack, the excessive heat/humidity (bled?), and the distance, but whatever the reason, his connections (Dutrow) should have never guaranteed a victory. The is nothing certain in this great game, and another surprise is frequently lurking around the next corner.

My top selection Denis of Cork rallied to finish a clear 2nd, 2-3/4 lengths ahead of the dead-heating duo of Anak Nakal and Ready’s Echo. Macho Again, Tale of Ekati, Guadalcanal, Icabad Crane, and Big Brown round out the order of finish. Japanese entrant Casino Drive scratched due to a stone bruise…what could’ve been!

Affirmed (1978) was the last horse to complete the Triple Crown sweep, and now the last eleven horses to win the Derby-Preakness have lost the Belmont Stakes…nobody said it would be easy!

*** I wonder what the over/under was on maiden Guadalcanal beating Big Brown?

Photo Credit: Newscom

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POSTED IN: Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Stakes Races, Trainers, Triple Crown