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Big Brown Wins Haskell Invitational At Monmouth Park
After his abysmal performance in the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, proved that he’s still one of the top 3-year-olds in the horse racing industry by winning the $1-million Haskell Invitational Sunday, August 3, at Monmouth Park.
Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, the overwhelming 1-5 favorite Big Brown covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.31 and paid $2.40, 42.10 and $2.10. Almost 2 lengths behind, Coal Play, under jockey Joe Bravo, returned $8 and $4.20. Cool Coal Man with jockey Eddie Castro paid $2.80 to show.
Coal Play got off to the early lead but Big Brown caught up and drew clear in the last sixteenth of a mile. The close win was something new for Big Brown, whose first five career wins came by an average of nearly eight lengths.
Boastful trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who criticized Desormeux after he eased Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes, was not sure his horse had enough left to overtake Coal Play, saying, “I thought we were going to get beat.”
Co-owner Michael Iavarone, recently questioning Dutrow’s handling of Big Brown, also was uncertain if the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner would have enough left to get the job done on the Jersey shore.
“I thought we were in trouble at the quarter pole,” Iavarone said. “Nick Zito’s horse ran so big. He kicked away from us and I thought we were in trouble. This was another dimension for Big Brown. He showed his heart and courage.”
Big Brown, the overwhelming favorite in the field of seven, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.31 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10.
While Big Brown did win, the performance probably means that he won’t run in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23. The colt does continue to be pointed toward the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t run back so quick. It may not be in his best interests,” race horse trainer Rick Dutrow said of having Big Brown appear in the Travers.
It was a narrow miss for race horse trainer Nick Zito, who enjoyed Belmont Stakes day much more than the connections for Big Brown. Zito saddled Da’Tara to the upset win in the third jewel of the Triple Crown as well as the two-three finishers in the 2008 Haskell Invitational.
“I thought we had a helluva shot turning for home,” race horse trainer Nick Zito said. “I thought to myself, ‘we could do this again.’ I’m very happy right now. We made him (Big Brown) run, that’s for sure.”
Other horses that raced in Monmouth Park’s Haskell in order of finish: Alaazo, Nistle’s Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest.
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After his abysmal performance in the 
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