Two down, one to go. All that stands between Big Brown and his coronation as horse racing?s undisputed king is 1 1/2 miles of dirt and nine horses ? nine “inferior” horses according to Big Brown?s trainer after his thoroughbred crushed the Preakness field three weeks ago.
This is the scene that likely will be painted at the 140th Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., as this evening?s 6:25 post time nears. At stake is Big Brown?s ride into history as racing?s first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, and about 135,000 fans will pack the historic venue alongside the Long Island Rail Road tracks to see if it happens.
A win, and Big Brown becomes immortal as the 12th horse ? and first since Affirmed in 1978 ? to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. A loss, and Big Brown joins the company of Smarty Jones, Alysheba, Tim Tam and Burgoo King, among 22 other horses, who were good enough to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown but not the third.
“I think I?m ready to make history,” Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown?s jockey, said.
Big Brown?s biggest obstacle today comes from Japan in Casino Drive, a horse that?s undefeated in two races. His mother, Better Than Honour, has produced the past two Belmont winners.
“We did not bring Casino Drive here, his pedigree led us here,” said Nobutaka Tada, the horse?s racing manager. “He was bred to win the Belmont Stakes.”
But so, too, is Big Brown, his trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., claims.
“They thought Godzilla was dead,” he said. “They?re going to find out he?s not dead, he?s here.”
Dutrow?s horse is primed to leave Casino Drive in his dust after visiting a manicurist on Friday. The 3-year-old colt was scheduled for some last-minute patch-up work to mend a quarter crack on his left front hoof.
Dutrow?s brash predictions for today?s race has enabled him to seize the media spotlight, which will shine even brighter if his horse puts on another dominating performance in front of a national television audience on NBC. Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby by 4 3/4 lengths and the Preakness by 5 1/4.
Bring on Casino Drive.
“He’s got no chance of beating our horse,” Dutrow said. “I?ll be in the winner?s circle when they get to the quarter pole. I have to think if he ever gets the lead in the Belmont, the race isgoing to be over.”
BELMONT STAKES
The field for Saturday?s 140th Belmont Stakes, with post position, horse?s name, jockey?s name and 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 Elbar 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
Trainers (by post position): 1, Richard Dutrow Jr. 2, Fred Seitz. 3, Dallas Stewart. 4, David Carroll. 5, Kazuo Fujisawa. 6, Nick Zito. 7, Barclay Tagg. 8, Nick Zito. 9, Todd Pletcher. 10, H. Graham Motion.
Owners (by post position): 1, IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr. 2, Fred Seitz. 3, West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. 4, Mr. & Mrs. William Warren. 5, Yamamoto Hidetoshi. 6, Robert LaPenta. 7, Charles Fipke. 8, Four Roses Thoroughbreds. 9, Let?s Go Stable. 10, Earle Mack.
When: Today, 6:25 p.m.
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Purse: $1 million
First place: $600,000
Second place: $200,000
Third place: $110,000
Fourth place: $60,000
Fifth place: $30,000
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
