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Triple Crown Archive

Big Brown in Town

– About 75 reporters, photographers, and gawkers were waiting for Big Brown and his entourage at Belmont when the colt arrived by van from Pimlico early Monday afternoon to settle into a stall in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn, where he’ll await the final leg of the Triple Crown. With a little less than three weeks to go and many column inches to fill, silly season is open, Vic Ziegel reports in the Daily News:

But my favorite question for the Big Brown group, on its horse’s first day back in New York, was asked of Michael Iavarone, the horse’s co-owner: “What does this mean for Long Island?”

More hotel bookings for the weekend of June 6-8? Traffic?
– Trainer Rick Dutrow said Big Brown ran down his hind heels in the Preakness, but that the abrasions were minor and being treated with a topical ointment. “It won’t happen next time because I will put patches and bandages on him” (Blood-Horse). More on rundowns from Fran at Hoofcare.
– Gary West, in fine form, takes on the hypocrisy and ignorance suffusing some corners of the post-Kentucky Derby debate over safety in racing:

People understand that football is violent and seem to accept it. But many people, especially the small-minded, will attack what they don’t understand. And fewer and fewer people, it seems, understand a sport where violence occurs only by accident.

– Dr. Mary Scollay has been hired by KHRA as its first equine medical director. Best known for development of an injury reporting system that launched last year, Scollay will continue her studies on breakdowns, as well as advise on medication policies and oversee drug research. “I wish I had her two weeks ago,” said director Lisa Underwood (AP).
– Gategate @ Churchill Downs (top right column, don’t miss the illustration at bottom). KHRA is investigating.

Posted in Triple Crown on May 20, 2008

Triple Crown, Huh, What Is it Good For?

Absolutely nothing, of course.

This idea that the sport needs a Triple Crown winner is laughable. So Big Brown wins the Triple Crown, Joe Public gets attached, and then never sees the horse again? How is that good for the sport?

The idea that Big Brown winning the Triple Crown will make someone go check out the races at Grants Pass Downs or Yakima Meadows is akin to saying that someone breaking the world record for running a mile will make more people go to their local high school track meet.

People want to see greatness, which is why 100,000-plus people will go to Belmont and millions will watch on TV.

Indeed, the pursuit of a Triple Crown is infinitely more valuable than the Triple Crown itself especially when the best horses in the race all these “new fans” are about to watch are headed to the breeding shed and back to Japan afterward.

Posted in Triple Crown on May 19, 2008

Cede the Crown

The Triple Crown? It’s a done deal for super Big Brown:

“He’s the right horse at the right time. Confident, cool and awesome. A freak. And a dream.” – Rick Maese

“That stretch run was, dare we say, reminiscent of Secretariat’s history-making triumph in the Belmont Stakes in 1973, when he streaked off to wrap up the Triple Crown.” – Ray Kerrison

“He is special, blessed, not mortal. It’s not fair to the other horses. Racing him is like giving Pete Sampras three serves, letting Wilt play on a seven-foot basket, fighting Ali with one hand.” – Bill Dwyre

“Everyone’s been waiting for the next Secretariat-type horse, and we got him. He’s going to do it.” – Bob Baffert

“No living, breathing being is beating Big Brown. Only an act of God, or a balky starting gate or a soft spot on his dirt on the Belmont track, can keep the winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown from closing the deal three Saturdays from now.” – David Steele

“That horse from Japan, Casino Drive, will be waiting for us, but he can’t beat our horse. All the Japanese people coming here for the race thought Godzilla was dead. They’re going to find out he’s not dead.” – Rick Dutrow

Meanwhile, Andrew Beyer plays spoilsport. At least one commentator is keeping a little perspective …

Posted in Triple Crown on May 18, 2008

Let the Hype Begin

Big Brown just made the Preakness look like a NY-bred allowance race over the Aqueduct inner track and now heads to Belmont as the first contender for the Triple Crown since Smarty Jones … and regardless of how he does there, he’ll likely retire immediately after to Three Chimneys, which bought stallion rights to the Boundary colt for $50 million.
5/18 Addendum: The final time of 1:54.80 translates into a Beyer speed figure of 100 for Big Brown. Just as his Derby figure didn’t reflect ground loss or the headwind he raced into, so this one doesn’t reflect the strong hold Desormeaux had on him down the backstretch, or the rider wrapping him up in the stretch, saving a little for the Belmont, or the easy dominance Big Brown displayed over a weak field.

Posted in Triple Crown on May 17, 2008

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