Big Brown To Run In The Monmouth Stakes on September 13
IEAH Stables’ Big Brown will make his next start in the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes on September 13.
The reigning winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Big Brown has not run since winning the Haskell Invitational August 3 at Monmouth Park.
Rather than having Big Brown make the quick turnaround to run in the Travers Stakes, which will be held Saturday, August 23, at Saratoga, owner Michael Iavarone said he wants the colt to run a grass race in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita, which has a synthetic surface.
“We were looking for a grass race for him, and the Monmouth grass surface should be perfect for Big Brown,” Iavarone said Thursday. “Monmouth was cordial enough to put up a nice purse for him, and the fans really took to Big Brown last time he was there. We’ll use this race to go to the synthetic surface at Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Big Brown was far from impressive in the Haskell, where he caught Coal Play just before the wire. He hopes for a better performance in his return to Monmouth Park, where he will run on the 1 1/8-mile turf track.
“We’re overjoyed that Big Brown will be returning to New Jersey,” said Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park.
The Haskell was Big Brown’s first race since the Belmont Stakes, where he failed miserably in his bid to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The prohibitive favorite in the grueling 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, Big Brown lost for the first time in six career starts when he was eased up en route to a last-place finish.
It was a puzzling performance by the 3-year-old, who was overpowering in winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Big Brown did run the Belmont Stakes with a slight quarter crack to his left front hoof, but there were no signs that the injury played a role in his embarrassing showing.
Tags: Big Brown
"Big Brown To Run In The Monmouth Stakes on September 13" was posted on 21 August 2008 2:24 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Special Features, Stakes Races
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