Originally published June 5, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 16, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Corrected version
Horse Racing | Big Brown has the inside track
Big Brown is No. 1 again before he even stampedes out of the gate at the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown will take his shot at Triple Crown history...
NEW YORK — Big Brown is No. 1 again before he even stampedes out of the gate at the Belmont Stakes.
Big Brown will take his shot at Triple Crown history from the inside, drawing the No. 1 post for Saturday's race. The post could be a lucky one for an undefeated colt that really doesn't need any extra edge: It's produced the most Belmont winners (23) since 1905.
Big Brown was installed as the early 2-5 favorite against nine rivals Wednesday for the grueling 1 ½-mile race.
Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby from the outside and he dominated the Preakness starting in the middle of the pack. Now, the colt has a shot at winning from the rail. Jockey Kent Desormeaux, whose flawless handling of the horse has Big Brown in position for the first Triple Crown in 30 years, said the inside was a better spot.
"Absolutely, because it's an easier trip," he said. "I would be able to just guide and glide. Now, I'm going to have to jockey for position. He's so fast away from the gate, though, the race might be over in 40 yards."
Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said Big Brown would win no matter the post position. Not even the quarter crack in his left front hoof, set to be patched Friday, can shake the trainer's confidence.
"I just can't see a post position getting him beat," he said. "As long as we break good, I can see us getting a good trip. There is not a lot of speed in the race. If we need our horse early on, he'll be there for us."
Casino Drive owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto dismissed all of Dutrow's boasts, saying through a translator: "No one wins with chatter. No one wins with a big mouth."
In 2006, Casino Drive's half brother, Jazil, won the Belmont Stakes, and a year later his three-quarter sister Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the race in 102 years.
Big Brown is 5-0, winning by a combined 39 lengths. A Belmont victory would make him the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed completed the sweep 30 years ago.
His main challenger, Japanese-bred Casino Drive, will start from the No. 5 post. He is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. He and Big Brown are the only horses with single-digit odds.
Denis of Cork was listed as the 12-1 third choice. He rallied from 20th to finish third in the Derby.
![]()
Nick Zito will saddle two 30-1 shots: Da'Tara and Anak Nakal, who was seventh in the Kentucky Derby. Da'Tara was ninth in the Florida Derby, beaten by 23 ½ lengths by Big Brown.
Guadalcanal was a surprise late entry. The colt is winless in five starts for owner-trainer Fred Seitz, but was second by a nose while going the Belmont distance of 1 ½ miles in his last start on turf at Churchill Downs.
Big Brown walked around his barn Wednesday, staying out of the morning rain.
"The horse is doing great. Everybody has seen him run. He's beaten mostly every horse in the race with ease," Dutrow said. "We've got a couple of newcomers. I don't think they add too much."
One of these horses could be the big, bad spoiler to derail yet another Triple Crown hopeful. Smarty Jones was the last horse to try for racing's biggest prize in 2004. His owners believed there were jockeys in the field who purposely tried to hinder Smarty Jones' attempt rather than try to win the race.
Desormeaux can't imagine that kind of sabotage playing out Saturday.
"I don't know that my peers this year would act that way," he said. "It's a different [jockeys'] colony. It's happened before, but I don't think I ride with those kind of guys."
Wood Memorial winner Tale of Ekati was fourth in the Derby for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Two Preakness runners are taking on Big Brown again. Macho Again was second in the Preakness and Icabad Crane was third.
Note
• Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, is headed toward Churchill Downs' Grade I, $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap next week. The race is June 14 in Louisville, Ky.
| Belmont Stakes draw | ||||
| The field for Saturday's 140th Belmont Stakes: | ||||
| PP | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Big Brown | Dutrow |
Desormeaux | 2-5 |
| 2 | Guadalcanal | Seitz |
Castellano | 50-1 |
| 3 | Macho Again | Stewart |
Gomez | 20-1 |
| 4 | Denis of Cork | Carroll |
Albarado | 12-1 |
| 5 | Casino Drive | Fujisawa |
Prado | 7-2 |
| 6 | Da'Tara | Zito | Garcia | 30-1 |
| 7 | Tale of Ekati | Tagg |
Coa | 20-1 |
| 8 | Anak Nakal | Zito |
Leparoux | 30-1 |
| 9 | Ready's Echo | Pletcher |
Velazquez | 30-1 |
| 10 | Icabad Crane | Motion |
Rose | 20-1 |
| Weights: 126 pounds. Distance: 1 ½ miles. Purse: $1 million. First place: $600,000. Post time: 3:25 p.m. PDT. | ||||
This story, published June 5, 2008 was corrected on July 16, 2008. A previous version of the story had a chart that showed the first name of each horse's jockey listed as the last name of the trainer for that horse.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 02:35 PM
Cavendish wins Tour stage; Armstrong plays it safe
Auto Racing | Tony Stewart bumps his way to win
Jockipedia Web site tracks athletes
Lance Armstrong a solid 10th in Tour de France's first stage
NEW - 05:13 PM
Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick for record 15th Grand Slam

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Man found dead in King County Jail was on trial for rape
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
779 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
246 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
149 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
112 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
107 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
103 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
89 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
71 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
48 - Seeking your questions
43
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Lake Washington's sockeye run may hit a record low








