Early Belmont Stakes Preview: Big Brown arrives in New York
Undefeated Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown left Maryland on the morning of May 19th and arrived by van at Belmont Park later the same afternoon.
A victory in the Belmont Stakes would make the son of Boundary the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Since then, ten horses (Spectacular Bid, Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Charismatic, War Emblem, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones) have pulled off the Derby-Preakness double only to be denied the Triple Crown in the Test of Champions.
Spectacular Bid is the one most associated with Big Brown. The Bid was 1-5 in the Belmont Stakes but was done in by a poor ride by Ronnie Franklin, a Dundalk, Maryland native who never recovered and spent many years battling substance abuse problems.
At this early stage, at least ten appear willing to try Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes, including undefeated Peter Pan hero Casino Drive, and Preakness Stakes 2nd and 3rd place finishers Macho Again and Icabad Crane.
Also under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown are Wood Memorial winner Tale of Ekati, Southwest Stakes hero Denis of Cork, and Lexington winner Behindatthebar. Anak Nakal, Ready’s Echo, Spark Candle, and Tomcito are also possible.
Photo Credit: Newscom
Tags: Belmont Stakes, Big Brown, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Triple CrownRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Horses, Triple Crown
2 opinions for Early Belmont Stakes Preview: Big Brown arrives in New York
Curlin Fan
May 20, 2008 at 10:09 pm
He’s running against weak and suspect competition, so he should win every race he runs against 3 year olds. Take a look back at last years crop. Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday, Nobizlikeshobiz. All of these horses were better than Big Brown. But i love what Robby Albarado had to say about Big Brown running agsint Curlin later in the year. “It’s the difference between men and boys, and hopefully we’ll get to see that in the fall if they meet in the Gold Cup or Breeders’ Cup,” Albarado said. “Frankly, there were at least four 3-year-olds last year who were as good as Big Brown if not better.
Jarrod Horak
May 22, 2008 at 9:53 pm
It is too early to compare three-year-olds crops. At this point, last year’s crop was clearly stronger with more depth.
Big Brown might be beating up on inferior horses, but he is doing it with style, and the undefeated lightly raced sort should continue to progress.
Curlin is bigger, stronger, and more mature than his younger rival, but much can change in the coming months.
I am enjoying the Triple Crown ride and keeping an open mind in regards to this crop.
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