What’s Next for Big Brown: Haskell or Travers

By: Greg Melikov

Theories are abound on why Big Brown finished ninth and last in the Belmont Stakes. They range from possible physical problems concerning the horse to the blame game involving the trainer and jockey.

I believe 18th Century German physicist Georg Cristoph Lichtenberg had it right: “Some theories are good for nothing except to be argued.”

Since that fateful June 7 when Big Brown failed to get the lead despite the No. 1 post, encountered a less than perfect trip early and couldn’t accelerate despite being outside on the far turn, the theories expressed have been numerous.

It could have been the quarter crack, Belmont Park was deep and cuppy, the heat was stifling because of high humidity, Big Brown breaking from the inside was startled by the starter, the colt didn’t like the track, he was kicked going to the clubhouse turn, the jockey gave him a horrible ride, the trainer didn’t work him enough, etc.

First, the horse apparently had no physical problems, according to tests after the race. The quarter crack didn’t affect his performance. “I took his shoes off, but that was what we wanted to do anyway,” trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. told BloodHorse.com. “I scoped him and it was clean.” That showed he didn’t bleed through his Lasix or have other internal problems.

“I took a full blood on him (June 11),” he said. “I’ll see what it’s like. I don’t see any issues with his legs. I’m not going to blame the racetrack, everybody else had to run on that racetrack and they had to run in that heat. So I’m not going to blame the track or the heat.”

One criticism was aimed at Dutrow concerning the lone workout during the three weeks between races. “Perhaps Big Brown hadn’t done enough to be in top shape for the 1 ½ miles,” racing guru Andy Beyer wrote. “If he wasn’t in optimal condition, the hot weather and the rough trip might have affected more than they normally would have.”

Several days after the Belmont, Dutrow told Associated Press, “I don’t see the horse with a problem, so I have to direct my attention toward the ride. That’s all I can come up with.”

Before they recently met to clear up any differences, Kent Desormeaux said: “I had no horse. He was empty.”

Dutrow, however, told the Daily Racing Form he didn’t know why Desormeaux eased the horse at the top of the stretch. In addition, he said Big Brown had no idea “what the hell was going on going into the first turn” because Desormeaux “was switching him” all over the track.

Co-owner Michael Iavarone differed, “We didn’t tell Kent to ease Big Brown, but we’re glad he did. Kent was worried about the horse, and we’re all glad that he bought him home healthy.”

Dutrow and Iavarone disagree on when the 3-year-old should race again. Ivarone favors the Haskell on Aug. 3 at Monmouth and Dutrow prefers the Travers on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

“Well, we are going to have to deal with (the Haskell) coming up,” Dutrow said, adding that he’d defer to the owners. “I would like to just train the horse and see how he is. It wouldn’t be out of the question if that is what (Iavarone) wants.”

This year’s Belmont winner Da ‘Tara is headed to the Travers. Four winners of Triple Crown’s last leg during the past three decades scored in Saratoga’s premier race, with the last being Birdstone in ‘04.

If Big Brown runs, he’ll attempt to become the fourth Kentucky Derby champ to win in the past 15 years and the third Preakness winner to triumph since ‘01.

If Big Brown goes in the Haskell, he’ll try to become the second Derby and fourth Preakness winners to triumph.

Point Given, who finished fifth in the ‘01 Derby, won the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers. He’s one of five horses to both the Haskell and Travers.

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Greg Melikov, a native Chicagoan and retired South Florida newspaperman who resides in Greater San Antonio, has been handicapping and writing about thoroughbreds for decades. His articles and columns appear globally in print and online, including on his own site: www.horsingaround.info. He became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park. He can be contacted at gmelikov@satx.rr.com.

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5 Comments

  1. If you look at the race record of the great ones, it was much heavier than the record of today’s horses. Big Brown is a fast horse, to be considered a great one, he needs more racing experiences. let him run both the Travers and the Haskell and then the Breeders Cup. He will show what he’s made of before retiring. As a side note, he has War Admiral and Man O’War on both sides. :-) Pretty far back, but it does make you wonder.

    Comment by Karmen Suttle on June 16, 2008

  2. I think Dutrow’s being a jerk.

    Comment by Diane on June 16, 2008

  3. People forget that horses aren’t machines. They’re animals. Living, breathing creatures that have moods just like anyone else. There’s a good chance that Big Brown simply wasn’t in the mood to run hard & fast at that particular time & place. He was just having an off day. It’s one of the gambles you take when you wager on a horse (rather than, say, a roulette wheel, which doesn’t have a mind of its own).

    Comment by Fred on June 16, 2008

  4. I believe that it was Big Brown’s way of saying “enought already.” His hoof may have still been sore, it was treacherously hot, and he may have just not felt like “performing.” Good for him. I think the jockey did the right thing when he eased Big Brown up. I’m just glad we didn’t see another speeding ambulance out on the track and another tragedy. Rest in peace Eight Belles.”The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi

    Comment by Pamela Harp-Gentry on June 16, 2008

  5. I think that poor horse was not used to running without steroids (Winstrol). It does not mean he’s not a great racing horse - and I love Big Brown, he’s so loving!- But since Winstrol is legal he should’ve probably stayed on that until after this major race; it may have too hard on him, physically, because he was always used to running on the Steroid (in the Belmont and Preakness). I’m definitely against the use of steroids without a medical cause, but the timing may have been too soon for him to get off of Winstrol - right before such an arduous race! Perhaps it was a case of some kind of withdrawl, the same kind that human’s report. Undoubtedly, the bewildered horse must have noticed the diffence in that very difficut race and was confused. He should have never been on steroids in the first place. I wonder if Eight Belles (proven to have had no steroids in her system while winning second in the Belmont) would have came in first if Big Brown had not been on steroids that day. Nevertheless it is not Big Brown’s faulth, he is the innocent victim of human decision. A friend of mine believes major races (and most sports) are “fixed,” which is another possiblity - maybe someone reak “important” had something to gain, financially, if Big Brown lost. People are greedy. Three cheers for both Big Brown and Eight Belles, I love you both!

    Comment by Paula Marie on June 17, 2008

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