Big Brown is the center of debate after his Belmont loss, and I was pretty ballistic myself when he got eased out, but I've seen this happen to good horses all year. He never ran his race, it was over after a troubled first quarter.

Big Brown's jockey Kent Desormeaux looked like he wanted the pace to set up in front of him, watching for Da' Tara, who is happy to come over to the rail and grab the lead. But, on Monday, trainer Rick Dutrow revealed to the DRF that their plan was to send Brownie straight to the lead as they did in the Florida Derby--where Big Brown beat eventual Belmont Stakes winner Da' Tara by more than 23 lengths. Desormeaux says that when Big Brown slipped leaving the gate, he got "pinched back" a length, giving Da' Tara the lead. This confirms that Big Brown's slip (to his right) did indeed cost them strategically.

(UPDATED on 6/13) One of the most vexing details I've had pointed out to me more recently is that Big Brown's "slip" may have been the result of his being startled by someone standing on the track--Belmont's starter, Roy Williamson. On June 13th, Dick Powell explained this circumstance in the Handicapper's Edge online at brisnet.com. At first, the starter is not obvious to me in the heads-on replay I have a copy of, but clear as day as the field rushes by him in the more familiar side-view replay. In the heads-on replay I first see the starter after the field has cleared the gate and passed him, and he's walking up the track to the gate. I compared pictures from recent Belmont runnings, including last year's and in those photos the starter is standing at the rail--not behind it, but right next to it, and not out into the first horses' path. In the side view of this year's Belmont replay, I am now very aware that the starter is not standing at the rail or behind it, he's actually on the track in the one-path. The photo taken from behind the horses as they left the gate dramatically illustrates how much further out on the track the starter was in this year's Belmont Stakes. The first post in the gate was actually empty, and Big Brown came out of the second hole--and in the side view of the replay I can see Big Brown veer out as he approaches and passes by the starter. In the heads-on I can see Big Brown turning his body away from the rail as his head is pointed towards it. He is looking at something towards the rail, but averting his path away from it. When this happens, Big Brown's charge to the lead looks interrupted and Da'Tara gets an advantage, coming up with a three-quarters length gain as Big Brown's head passes by the starter. There's also a theory that the cameras set up near the rail startled him, but I find that very unconvincing when there's a guy standing on the track, almost right in front of Big brown's path.

Next, Big Brown is sent to chase Da' Tara, and pointed to take a spot right next to him, where Brownie should settle up and travel just off that inferior pace setter. But Eibar Coa urges Tale of Ekati forward to take the spot next to Da' Tara, blocking Big Brown. Brownie's charge harshly interrupted, he is abruptly turned back to the path behind a settling Da' Tara and nearly runs over him. Kent Desormeaux steadied the "rank" Big Brown and moved him out from behind the pace, bumping Anak Nakal, only to next be kept as much as six-wide off the pace by Tale of Ekati as they went down the backstretch.

(UPDATED on 6/9) On Monday, Robin Smullen, assistant or Tale of Ekati's trainer, Barclay Tagg , said a 3" gash on the back of Ekati's right foot was probably caused by Big Brown. After word of this gash came out on Sunday I watched Ekati in the replays and thought the same thing. Again, all the trouble is in the first quarter, as they come to the first turn: when Desormeaux sends Big Brown out from behind Da' Tara and Ekati, Big Brown's front right hoof comes forward and appears to make contact with the back of Tale of Ekati's right foot as Ekati kicks back--his back feet drift in a little too. I don't think this hurt Brownie, but it just further illustrates the close quarters he was in, and how much work Kent had to do to avoid clipping heels with the horses in front and get Big Brown out of this box. It's very quick, you can't see it from the angle in the stock NYRA replay. Here's a better view:

Brownie's trip doesn't get any easier. Next, Tale of Ekati deliberately keeps Brownie as wide as possible, and that horse--a plodder who I've never liked--has no better chance of finishing in the money than Big Brown or nearly anyone else after these tactics. Coa and his mount Tale of Ekati keep Big Brown at a disadvantage around the far turn, where it's even harder for a frustrated Big brown to try and go around Tale of Ekati--consider the angle. And where the final turn meets the top of the lane in the Belmont is even a bit farther than where the Kentucky Derby would be finished. Pretty hard to make up for a bad trip after that point.

On the Tuesday after the race, thoroughbredtimes.com reported that Rick Dutrow had reaffirmed his belief about Desormeaux's ride costing Big Brown the Belmont Stakes, but that he would not object to Desormeaux as the pilot in Big Brown's next race.

Big Brown did not come up with any lameness after the race. It's the day after the race, and they've even scoped him. Nothing wrong. Iavarone said the track may have been a little deep and Brownie didn't like it. Maybe that contributed too. Wouldn't be first guess. I thought about Brownie getting some trouble in the Belmont. Would I still key him to win? I did, because I thought he was good enough that he could make up for a bump or something and recover enough to be even with the next best horse in the race. That keeps him in contention. But here, we have Ekati pushing him out the rest of the way. What do you even call Ekati's trip, anti-ground-saving?

The minor quarter crack Big Brown had was healing quickly, patched-up, and never caused him discomfort. After the race? They say his feet are still in good shape.

It probably wasn't the lack of a steroid that dulled Big Brown's performance in the Belmont, because the winstrol he was taken off of was not a race-performance enhancing drug, and his last dose was in April. Winstrol is a training aid, helping to keep horses active and aggressive, keep their appetites healthy, and assist in muscle recovery after rigorous workouts. Apparently, the week of and the day of the Belmont, Brownie was as healthy and aggressive as he's ever been. Hell, he looked like he was ready to rip Da'Tara a new one for being in his way as they traveled towards the first turn.

I've caught a lot of nice prices on the Derby Trail, in the crown races--and other races--by forgiving horses who finished badly in a previous race... after bad trips. A good number of them lost their race early. I'll give you an example right out of this same Belmont Stakes field, who was previously a nice one to pick out in the Preakness: Macho Again. Before his one-turn Derby Trial win he got taken out of another race early and finished out of the money. This summer watch your PPs for three-year-olds who didn't impress you on the Derby trail. There will be some bad trips and horses who were taken out early--or at another point in the race. Bumped, taken wide. You might even find a report about clipped heels or something like that, and sometimes they may also have displaced their palate. A lot of times, theose horses are not as bad as their worst finish--after their worst trip--would have you believe.

Big Brown will be back. With Casino Drive's connections considering a stateside return in the Breeders Cup, we might even see these two duel it out there. I'll be looking forward to it.

(UPDATED 6/13) Bloodhorse.com recently reported that Rick Dutrow and Kent Desormeaux had a cordial meeting on Wednesday, June 11, and Kent will have the mount again in Big Brown's next race. Big Brown's co-owner, Mark Iavarone of IEAH Stable, apparently wants the colt to run in the Haskell at Monmouth Park on August 8th. Dutrow would prefer the Travers at Saratoga on August 23. Dutrow reaffirmed his respect for Kent Desormeaux, saying "It would really hurt Kent if we took him off the horse, and I’m not out to hurt people."

Tags: Bigbrown Belmontstakes 2008 Triplecrown

Bookmark: