Knock-knock-knockin’ on History’s Door
To me, winning the Triple Crown is a self-fulfilling accomplishment. That is, doing it is enough.
While the fact that no horse behind Big Brown in either of his Grade 1 victories has run better than 100 Beyer or earned a Ragozin figure better than a “5” certainly speaks to the inferiority of this crop in a general basis, I have been impressed by the way Big Brown has won his races: He’s winning by open lengths, overcoming obstacles, and making it look easy.
Other than Big Brown, there doesn’t appear to be any world beaters in today’s Belmont Stakes, but I do think this race will pose the dual classic winner’s toughest challenge because of the quarter crack issues, some missed training, and the 1 1/2-mile distance.
So going back to my original statement, if he wins his third classic race in five weeks then he’s a deserving Triple Crown winner. To me, the talent behind him becomes moot once he makes it happen.
If someone hit successfully in 57 consecutive Major League Baseball games to break Joe Dimaggio’s record, I wouldn’t care if it came against fifth starters–the accomplishment is enough, and that’s how I feel about Big Brown winning the Triple Crown.
