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Big Brown Wins Preakness; Casino Drive Awaits in Belmont
The Kentucky Derby winner cruised to big victory in the Preakness Stakes to remain undefeated in his career. Some have already anointed him as horse racing’s savior, but he’ll have to beat Japanese import Casino Drive to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
30-Second Summary
Two weeks ago, Big Brown easily defeated the Kentucky Derby field, proving himself to be the class of this year’s three-year olds. His win was overshadowed, however, by the death of runner-up Eight Belles.
Horse racing has received a wave of criticism in the two weeks since, and there have been debates on the sport’s rules, breeding practices and treatment of horses. With many casual fans turning away from the sport, horse racing was in need of a star horse to win fans back.
Big Brown may be that star. Jockey Kent Desormeaux barely had to use his whip as Big Brown easily pulled away from the field down the backstretch for a commanding victory.
“In 27 years of riding,” said retired jockey Gary Stevens, “I’ve never seen a horse accelerate like that.”
Some pundits are already handing Big Brown the Triple Crown, but he may be facing his toughest challenger yet at the Belmont. Casino Drive, half-brother to the last two Belmont Stakes winners—Jazil and Rags to Riches—is a Japanese-owned horse who won his American debut easily last Saturday in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont. He had won by a large margin in Japan in February in his only other start.
Desormeaux, who rode him in the Peter Pan, said, “He’s a phenomenal talent, and we’ve got our hands full with this one.”
Horse racing has received a wave of criticism in the two weeks since, and there have been debates on the sport’s rules, breeding practices and treatment of horses. With many casual fans turning away from the sport, horse racing was in need of a star horse to win fans back.
Big Brown may be that star. Jockey Kent Desormeaux barely had to use his whip as Big Brown easily pulled away from the field down the backstretch for a commanding victory.
“In 27 years of riding,” said retired jockey Gary Stevens, “I’ve never seen a horse accelerate like that.”
Some pundits are already handing Big Brown the Triple Crown, but he may be facing his toughest challenger yet at the Belmont. Casino Drive, half-brother to the last two Belmont Stakes winners—Jazil and Rags to Riches—is a Japanese-owned horse who won his American debut easily last Saturday in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont. He had won by a large margin in Japan in February in his only other start.
Desormeaux, who rode him in the Peter Pan, said, “He’s a phenomenal talent, and we’ve got our hands full with this one.”
Headline Link: Two down, one to go
Big Brown coasted to victory, expending little effort in beating the weak field. “I know we have horse left. There is no question,” said trainer Rick Dutrow, “I just can’t imagine him not showing up for the Belmont.” There have been 10 horses to win the Derby and Preakness races since Affirmed won the 1978 Triple Crown, but all have fallen short at Belmont. Dutrow is confident that Big Brown will end the drought: “We should have the horse to get the job done.”
Source: ESPN
Background: The Kentucky Derby
Big Brown went into the Kentucky Derby as the unproven favorite in a wide-open field. His trainer said he couldn’t be beaten and Big Brown proved him right, coasting to a 4 ¾ length victory.
Source: findingDulcinea
After the race, however, Big Brown’s victory was overshadowed by the death of Eight Belles. The filly finished second, but misstepped past the finish line, breaking both her front legs. Horse racing critics lashed out, labeling the sport a form of animal cruelty, while racing insiders debated reforms to breeding, training and other aspects of the sport.
Source: findingDulcinea
At Pimlico, there seemed to be as much talk about Eight Belles as there was about the race itself. NBC held a roundtable discussion on the issues surrounding Eight Belles’ death featuring New York Times writer and racing critic William C. Rhoden, Eight Belles’ trainer Larry Jones, former jockey Gary Stevens and veterinarian Larry Bramlage. The roundtable was preceded by a video summarizing the issues.
Source: NBC Sports
Historical Context: Triple Crown winners and near misses
The Blood-Horse has a list of Triple Crown winners and near misses.
Source: The Blood-Horse
Opinion & Analysis: How good is Big Brown?
The Baltimore Sun’s Peter Schmuck calls Big Brown the savior of horse racing, giving the sport good publicity when it needs it most. “It was an amazing performance,” he writes, “considering all the extra weight Big Brown was carrying—the weight of the horse racing industry. Could this horse be this generation’s Seabiscuit, lifting up a troubled sport in its moment of need?”
Source: Baltimore Sun
The New York Post’s Ray Kerrison was amazed by Big Brown’s race: “What a performance! What a memory! What a horse!” He says that he’s never seen a horse accelerate the way Big Brown did since Secretariat in 1973.
Source: New York Post
The Courier-Journal’s Eric Crawford thinks the comparisons to great horses like Secretariat, Affirmed and Seattle Slew are premature. Those horses faced tougher fields and proved their class as older horses, while Big Brown has faced poor competition and will likely retire after this year. “Big Brown could be the greatest of his time,” he writes, “But forgive me if I can’t lump him with the greats of all time until he beats someone of his own stature.”
Source: Courier-Journal
Handicapper Andrew Beyer thinks that Big Brown has yet to prove that he can beat strong competition. This year’s Derby field was considered weak and, with just one Derby horse challenging Big Brown at Pimlico, the Preakness field was one of the worst fields in recent memory. “Horses don’t prove much by winning easy,” writes Beyer, “They prove themselves by beating good competition.”
Source: Washington Post
Big Brown may finally face strong competition at Belmont. Casino Drive is an extremely well-bred horse, the son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Better Than Honour, mother of the last two Belmont winners. Shipped to Japan as a yearling, his connections have brought him to the U.S. to race in the Belmont. “Big Brown was amazing, most impressive,” said Nobutaka Tada, spokesman for Casino Drive’s owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto, “But the Belmont Stakes is the reason we are here, and Casino Drive loves it here.”
Source: New York Daily News
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