Big Brown Triple Crown . com

It has certainly been a disappointing day at BigBrownTripleCrown.com. It would appear that the purpose of the site may have ceased to exist shortly after 6:30 pm ET today, but we will continue to post information about Big Brown and the Triple Crown on the site going forward. I want to thank all of you who have visited the site during this magnificent run at history. I hope that this Triple Crown Season has helped promote this great sport and has produced many new fans. I encourage all who have already been subscribed to our updates to stay on board and I encourage any others to consider subscribing now. Since information will likely come at a slower pace going forward, the site will only be updated as necessary and emails will only be sent out on days that there has been a new posting. I especially want to thank those of you who sent along email messages. It was very nice to read all of your kind words and your feedback was always helpful. I would love to hear from more of you if you have a moment to send along any feedback to BigBrownTripleCrown@gmail.com. Most importantly, thank you, of course, must go to Big Brown. I hope to see him run again.

Big Brown seemed rank at the start and was eased at the quarter pole. Da'Tara, ridden by Alan Garcia and trained by Nick Zito won at 38-1. It appears there are no health issues with Big Brown. Desormeaux says he eased the horse simply to protect the "best horse he has ever ridden". He said that entering the final turn, he "just had no horse."

Blood-Horse - Dan Liebman: Da' Tara Springs Upset; Big Brown Eased

The world awaited a delivery from Big Brown, but in a shocker, it was Da’ Tara who won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) Saturday as the horse seeking to win the Triple Crown was eased past the wire. Trainer Nick Zito spoiled a Triple Crown for the second time. He also trained Birdstone, who beat Smarty Jones in the 2004 Belmont. And, like in ’04 when Zito also ran third with Royal Assault, he was third this year with Anak Nakal, who dead-heated with Ready’s Echo. In second was Denis of Cork. Big Brown was in obvious trouble in the turn for home and Desormeaux eased him back and let him gallop down the stretch. Following the race, Desormeaux said there was nothing physically wrong with Big Brown,.....more

Big Brown didn't deliver - at all. Long Island's favorite horse failed miserably in his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years when he pulled up and finished last in the 140th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. Da'Tara, a 38-1 pick, was the wire-to-wire winner. "Long before we went into the last turn, I had no horse," jockey Kent Desormeaux said. Asked what went wrong, Desormeaux said, "I have no idea.".....more

As most expected, Big Brown made easy work of the Preakness field and is one step closer to a Triple Crown. He won by 5 1/4 lengths as a 1-5 favorite in front of 112,000 fans at Pimlico. Connections were very happy with how he raced and how little he needed to use up as the Belmont looms three weeks away. Casino Drive and other fresher horses will certainly bring challenge and Drama to the effort.

AP - Beth Harris: Big Brown wins Preakness, sets up Triple Crown try

Big Brown powered to the lead turning for home and then sailed through the stretch to win the Preakness, still perfect and squarely pointed down the path toward thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown in 30 years.....more

....Big Brown, the overwhelming favorite ridden by Kent Desormeaux, grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and easily drew away from the field for his fifth career triumph."Unlike in the Kentucky Derby where I had to start knuckling on him to get him to go get the leaders, today I was slowing him down not to pass the leaders," said Desormeaux."It was really a dramatic change from two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby.".....more

...With the victory, the powerful bay colt becomes the 30th horse in thoroughbred history to head to the Belmont Stakes with the elusive Triple Crown in his sights. Only eleven have captured all three of horse racing’s jewels -- the last was Affirmed in 1978.....more

In a performance that was more like a coronation than a Thoroughbred horse race, Big Brown crushed his 11 rivals in the Preakness Stakes.....more

There are many things that indicate Casino Drive could put up a strong challenge in the Belmont Stakes. His win in the Peter Pan Stakes affirmed it.

ESPN.com - David Grening (DRF): Casino Drive spices up Belmont Stakes picture

Oh brother - and sister - did the Belmont Stakes just get a whole lot more interesting. Casino Drive, a half-brother to recent Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and the filly Rags to Riches, announced his presence as a major contender for the June 7 Belmont Stakes - and a potential Triple Crown roadblock to Big Brown - with an impressive 5 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park......more

Big Brown has notched the first victory of the elusive Triple Crown with a convincing 4 3/4 length Kentucky Derby win. The win was worth $1,451,800 in earnings, helping him eclipse the $2 million mark in just his 4th career start. He was wide and clear for most of the race. Heading into the final turn, Big Brown got into gear and pulled away easily.



Blood-Horse - Dan Liebman: Big Brown Delivers; Filly Breaks Down

United Parcel Service has never made a delivery like Big Brown delivered May 3 at Churchill Downs, romping home by nearly five lengths to remain unbeaten in four starts with a scintillating win in the $2,211,800 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).....more

Big Brown won the $1-million Florida Derby at Gulfstream, crushing the 12 horse field and winning by a 5-length margin over Smooth Air. In a race that he was never really challenged, Big Brown won $600,000 in his first stakes victory and only his 3rd career race. His final time of 1:48.16 was just .37 seconds off of the track record. He is now consideered one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

Despite the outside post, he worked hard to get the lead witha 22.76 opening quarter and continued the hot-pace with a 45.83 half mile. He was never caught hitting the 6-furlong mark in 1:10.08 and extending his lead in the stretch.



Blood-Horse - Jason Shandler: Big Brown Huge in Florida Derby Rout

....highly-touted Big Brown proved that all the hype was justified, as he led from start to finish in the $1-million Florida Derby (gr. I), crushing 11 rivals to win by five lengths March 29 at Gulfstream Park while making just his third career start. The eye-popping victory, which is sure to make the Boundary colt one of the betting favorites in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), was most impressive considering.....more

After more than six months off with foot problems, Big Brown ran an allowance race that was moved from the turf to the dirt at Gulfstream Park. It was the first race for trainer Rick Dutrow, who had been training him for almost six months since a majority share was purchased by IEAH Stables in September. Big Brown again managed a double-digit length victory with a 12 3/4 length win.

Blood-Horse: Big Brown Bursts Onto Derby Scene

With a big, lumbering move, IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa’s 3-year-old Big Brown powered his way onto the stage as a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prospect and probable starter in the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) after winning an "off-the-turf" allowance race March 5 at Gulfstream Park......more

Big Brown made his racing debut at Saratoga in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on the turf. Hew ent off at almost 15-1, dominated the race, winning by 11 1/4 lengths for trainer Pat Reynolds. Jeremy Rose was aboard the colt.

Affirmed defeats Alydar again to win the Triple Crown.

St. Petersburg Times - Bruce Lowitt: Two-horse race an Affirmed delight

Once again, as in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, it looked like an eight-legged, two-headed horse charging down the stretch at the 1978 Belmont Stakes. It was Affirmed and Alydar going at it again. Few horses have been linked the way these two were, and are. Think of one and the other instantly comes to mind, one name following the other as comfortably as jelly follows peanut butter. .....more

Affirmed wins the Preakness, Alydar closer, but still second.

About.com: Affirmed vs. Alydar

1978 Preakness chart notes: AFFIRMED, taken under light restraint after breaking alertly, quickly joined TRACK REWARD from the outside, gained the advantage leaving the first turn, made the pace under clever rating, responded gamely to rousing when challenged by ALYDAR in the upper stretch and turned back that rival under brisk handling. ALYDAR, under restraint and allowed to settle early, advanced willingly outside of horses in backsretch, engaged AFFIRMED well out from the rail approacking the stretch to nearly reach even terms then couldn't get to that rival when set down in a steady drive......more

Affirmed wins the Kentucky Derby.

About.com: Affirmed vs. Alydar

1978 Kentucky Derby chart notes: AFFIRMED away alertly but held in reserve for six furlongs, moved up boldly along outside thereafter to take command on second turn, relinquished the lead momentarily a quarter mile out but responded to a rousing ride to regain command in upper stretch and was fully extended to hold ALYDAR safe. The latter, under snug restraint early, commenced to advance from the outside after six furlongs, continued wide in the stretch, swerved to bump with BELIEVE IT in closing sixteenth and finished strongly when straightened. .....more

Seattle Slew wins the Belmont Stakes to become the first undefeated Triple Crown Winner.

SeattleSlew.com: Belmont Stakes

....In a matter of a few strides on the far turn, Slew exploded away from the field. He opened at least four lengths, for good measure. Run Dusty Run and Sanhedrin tried as hard as they could but simply could not make up any ground. Run Dusty Run deserves special mention for falling behind Sanhedrin and then coming back again to pass him in the stretch showing his courage in an all-out effort. He was a wonderful racehorse that would've made a lot of noise had he been fortunate enough to not have to face Seattle Slew in the classics. Slew completed the race in 2:29 3/5.......more

Undefeated Seattle Slew wins the Preakness.

SeattleSlew.com: Preakness Stakes

....Seattle Slew accelerated to join, pass, and move away from Cormorant halfway through the final bend. His time for the mile was 1:34 4/5, the fastest ever run by any horse in the Preakness. And he kept going, coming home without pressure and being eased by Cruguet in the final 100 yards to finish 1 and ½ lengths in front. Iron Constitution closed to be second......more

Undefeated Seattle Slew wins the Kentucky Derby.

SeattleSlew.com: 103rd Kentucky Derby

....Slew drew off by 4 lengths in mid-stretch. He was eased the final sixteenth of a mile and finished 1 and ¾ lengths ahead of Run Dusty Run. Sanhedrin would finish third. "Seattle Slew was the most deserving winner in the history of the Kentucky Derby," declared the late Louisville newspaperman Mike Barry, who was present for all but four of the Churchill Downs classic races from 1922 through 1991. "In all the Derbies I've seen, I never saw a horse have as much trouble as Seattle Slew had and still win the race."......more

Secretariat dominates the field to win the Triple Crown.

CNNSI - Whitney Tower: Secretariat turns in the performance of the century

....His long stride carried him to the finish by an ever-increasing margin in poetic rhythm. And when the wire was reached, the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes won and the ninth Triple Crown in racing history earned, the closest competitor—if he can be so called—was 31 lengths to the rear......more

....The numbers 31 and 2:24 merely trigger the REAL memory of a horse running as no horse had ever seemed to run before or since.Secretariat ran more powerfully, and with more fluid skill than one could ever hope from a horse. And humans hope for much from horses. To feel the glory of Secretariat's Belmont is to be flooded with emotion of having seen something of true wonder......more

Secretariat notched the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

CNNSI - Whitney Tower: Flying High And Heading For Fame

....Secretariat's Derby act seemed nearly impossible to follow, but his Preakness was no letdown. True, he broke no track record as he had at Churchill Downs, but he was sensational enough. ......more

Secretariat's victory in the Preakness was every bit as impressive as his Derby victory, but accomplished in a spectacularly different way. Instead of waiting, and then asking his horse to make one long, sustained drive for the finish, as he had in the Derby, jockey Ron Turcotte surprised a record Preakness crowd with a sudden, lightening move from last to first to seize the lead early in the race. ......more

Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby.

CNNSI - Whitney Tower: It was Murder

....Before the largest crowd to see a horse race in this country (a squirming, screaming and sweating 134,476), Secretariat threw a 23-second final quarter at his "grudge" rival Sham and won the 99th Kentucky Derby in the track-record time of 1:59 2/5. Crossing the finish line, the magnificent chestnut drew a roar of approval.......more

As Secretariat passed Sham in the stretch, thousands screamed their lungs out at the track, and millions more TV viewers cheered at home. Radio man Cawood Ledford called the race on a national radio network, reaching around the world through the United States Armed Forces Radio. He chanted the simple words that The Big Red Horse¹s millions of fans were waiting to hear: "It's SECRETARIAT! And he's got his Kentucky Derby!"......more

Here is some things gathered about the Failed Triple Crown attempts of the last 30 years. This is meant to indicate how hard it is to accomplish and how impressive it would be if Big Brown does succeed.

1979 - Spectacular Bid - 3rd at Belmont (spoiler - Coastal)

1981 - Pleasant Colony - 3rd at Belmont (spoiler - Summing)

1987 - Alysheba - 4th at Belmont (spoiler - Bet Twice)

1989 - Sunday Silence - 2nd at Belmont (spoiler - Easy Goer)

1997 - Silver Charm - 2nd at Belmont (spoiler - Touch Gold)

1998 - Real Quiet - 2nd at Belmont (spoiler - Victory Gallop)

1999 - Charismatic - 3rd at Belmont (spoiler - Lemon Drop Kid)

2002 - War Emblem - 8th at Belmont (spoiler - Sarava)

2003 - Funny Cide - 3rd at Belmont (spoiler - Empire Maker)

2004 - Smarty Jones - 2nd at Belmont (spoiler - Birdstone)

VIDEOS:
Spectacular Bid in 1979:



Spectacular Bid losing the 1979 Belmont Stakes:



Pleasant Colony in 1981:



Pleasant Colony losing the 1981 Belmont Stakes to Summing:



1987 - Alysheba vs Bet Twice (spoiler) and 1989 - Sunday Silence vs Easy Goer (spoiler)

Alysheba losing the 1987 Belmont Stakes to Bet Twice:



Sunday Silence losing the 1989 Belmont Stakes to Easy Goer:



Silver Charm losing the 1997 Belmont Stakes to Touch Gold:



Real Quiet (and Kent Desormeaux) losing the 1998 Belmont Stakes to Victory Gallop (did Desormeaux move to early?) - One of the great (or most heart-breaking) finishes of all-time:



Charismatic losing the 1999 Belmont Stakes to Lemon Drop Kid:



War Emblem losing the 2002 Belmont Stakes:



Funny Cide losing to Empire Maker in 2003 Belmont Stakes:



Smarty Jones in 2004 (full video of all 3 races):

Citation wins the 8th Triple Crown

Assault wins Triple Crown:



Here is his Kentucky Derby win (he was 4th favorite entering (race) - watch his move at the rail: