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Friday, May 16, 2008 - Page updated at 05:44 PM

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Preakness Stakes | Confidence is high for Big Brown

The Associated Press

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MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES

BALTIMORE - MAY 15: Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown is blanketed after a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course in preparation for the 133rd Preakness Stakes in Baltimore Maryland May 15, 2008. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 81080735

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JED KIRSCHBAUM / MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

Preakness favorite Big Brown sticks out his tongue as he is bathed following his morning workout at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday, May 15, 2008. (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun/MCT) 1058275

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JEFF CHIU / AP

In this April 23, 2008 file photo, a UPS truck is seen in San Francisco. Capitalizing on the buzz around thoroughbred racing's biggest event, UPS has inked a sponsorship deal with Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, who was named in honor of the shipping giant known for its distinctive brown trucks and uniforms. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file) NYBZ131

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ROB CARR / AP

Blacksmith Ian McKinlay, center, replaces Big Brown's shoes on Thursday.

Saturday

Preakness Stakes, 3:09 p.m. post, Ch. 5

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."

Preakness and Derby
The Kentucky Derby winner since 1997 has won the Preakness Stakes six of the past 11 years:
Year Horse Place Comment
2007 Street Sense 2nd Lost a heartbreaker to Curlin
2006 Barbaro DNF Was hurt at the start of the race
2005 Giacomo 3rd Afleet Alex nearly falls in a gutsy victory
2004 Smarty Jones Won Wows onlookers, winning by 11 ½ lengths
2003 Funny Cide Won Drills nine rivals by 9 ¾ lengths
2002 War Emblem Won Beast 45-1 longshot Magic Weisner by ¾-length
2001 Monarchos 6th Point Given, with Gary Stevens, toys with group
2000 Fusaichi Pegasus 2nd Stronach Stable's Red Bullet wins going away
1999 Charismatic Won D. Wayne Lukas runner pays 8-1
1998 Real Quiet Won Mike Pegram runner beats Victory Gallop again
1997 Silver Charm Won Wins stretch duel vs. Free House, Captain Bodgit
Gary Dougherty

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