Big Brown To Race In The Preakness; Other Kentucky Derby Horses Might Not Follow
As the 2008 Kentucky Derby concludes with Big Brown winning the Run for the Roses, all focus now turn to Pimlico Race Course for the $1-million Preakness Stakes 133 on May 17.
This morning, horse trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. informed Maryland Jockey Club officials that Big Brown, the impressive winner of yesterday’s Kentucky Derby, will be Baltimore bound for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the 2008 Preakness Stakes.
The son of Boundary will train at Churchill Downs for his Preakness preparations and is expected to arrive at Pimlico on Wednesday, May 14.
Big Brown is 4-0 in his brief career, winning by a total of 33 3/4 lengths. Can Big Brown sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes and give racing its first Triple Crown winner in 30 years?
“I don’t know who’s going to beat him,” said Graham Motion, who trained 19th-place Adriano. “To win off three starts…even Curlin could not do that.”
“He’ll go to the Preakness as one of the most overwhelming favorites,” said trainer Nick Zito, whose Kentucky Derby horses, Anak Nakal and Cool Coal Man, finished seventh and 15th, respectively. “You can’t say enough good things. He was tremendous.”
The only Kentucky Derby finisher that might come back to challenge the winner is Recapturetheglory, who finished fifth yesterday despite trouble in the paddock. Trainer and co-owner Louie Roussel indicated a final decision would be made tomorrow.
Eight new shooters are possible 2008 Preakness contenders: Lexington Stakes winner, Behindatthebar; San Rafael Stakes winner, El Gato Malo; Count Fleet winner, Giant Moon; Withers Stakes winner, Harlem Rocker; California Derby winner, Yankee Bravo; Kentucky Bear (third, Blue Grass); Stevil (fourth, Blue Grass); and Tres Borrachos (third, Arkansas Derby).
The Kentucky Derby winner has finished first in the 1 1/16-mile Preakness Stakes six times in the last 11 runnings.
The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Thirteen of the last 16 years have produced double-digit starters.
"Big Brown To Race In The Preakness; Other Kentucky Derby Horses Might Not Follow" was posted on 4 May 2008 10:40 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Preakness Stakes, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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