Preakness Stakes | Confidence is high for Big Brown

BALTIMORE — Before anointing Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown the next coming of Secretariat, consider this: The colt enters Saturday's Preakness off a two-week turnaround, the shortest of his career; he's got problem front feet; and there are 12 horses with connections eager to show Big Brown can be beaten.

None of those factors has dimmed trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.'s massive confidence one bit.

"I just can't wait to get over there," he said, nodding toward Pimlico's track. "We're ready to move on, man."

Big Brown delivered on Dutrow's pre-Derby boasting with a 4 ¾-length victory nearly two weeks ago. The colt will try to take another step toward history by winning the Preakness in just his fifth career start.

Twenty-one of the last 23 Preakness winners did so off a two-week rest. Big Brown is the early 1-2 favorite, the lowest odds Pimlico officials can recall. Undefeated Preakness winners Majestic Prince (3-5 in 1969), Seattle Slew (2-5 in 1977) and Smarty Jones (2-5 in 2004) went off at low odds, too.

Dutrow has loudly proclaimed his dislike of the quick turnaround between races. He prefers either short breaks (up to five days) or long ones (up to 40 days) between races.

"But that's just me," he said. "That doesn't mean that Big Brown won't like it. Since he's come out of the Derby up 'til this minute, I'm very happy with the horse."

Big Brown stepped onto Pimlico's track for the first time Thursday morning, galloping 1 ½ miles. He was tracked by dozens of video and still cameras, and a horde of people followed him as he walked out to the track and back to the barn.

The colt never flinched with all the attention. He turned his head toward the sound of clicking cameras and looked around as though he was checking out the new scenery.

"He just does not get excited," Dutrow said. "That's a good thing because you need that kind of mental thing when you go into your races, especially the big races with the big crowds."

Big Brown's resume is impressive, but limited. He took five months off after winning his debut race on the turf at Saratoga in September because of problems with vertical cracks in his front hoofs. The so-called quarter cracks can bleed and make a horse lame. Movement and stress on the hoofs can spread the crack and prevent it from healing.

Dutrow uses hoof repair ace Ian McKinlay to work on Big Brown's feet. The colt was rocking a new pair of glued-on shoes Thursday afternoon outside his barn, unfazed by McKinlay's handiwork.

Since recovering from his foot problems over the winter, Big Brown is 3-0, having cruised to victory by sizable margins.

But that didn't dissuade 12 other horses from taking Big Brown on and trying to stop a potential Triple Crown bid. All but Gayego at 8-1 are listed at double-digit odds.

"He is the favorite and deserves to be the favorite, but favorites get beat," said Edward Plesa Jr., who trains Hey Byrn.

Note

• Eight Belles had no diseases or pre-existing bone abnormalities that caused the filly to break down after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.

Autopsy results reviewed by The Associated Press confirm compound fractures of both front legs at the fetlock joints. They also describe lacerated skin on both legs, an absence of joint fluid in the damaged areas and congested lungs.

There also will be routine post-race drug-testing and further medication tests requested by Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones, who said in a phone interview Thursday he believes the horse just tripped over her own feet.

"She's bad about stumbling while pulling up," he said. "She doesn't pick her feet up very high."