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Theories abound on why Big Brown finished ninth and last in the Belmont Stakes. They range from possible physical problems concerning the horse to the blame game involving the trainer and jockey.
I believe 18th Century German physicist Georg Cristoph Lichtenberg had it right: “Some theories are good for nothing except to be argued.”
Since that fateful June 7 when Big Brown failed to get the lead despite the No. 1 post, encountered a less than perfect trip early and couldn’t accelerate despite being outside on the far turn, the theories expressed have been numerous:
It could have been the quarter crack, Belmont Park was deep and cuppy, the heat was stifling because of high humidity, Big Brown breaking from the inside was startled by the starter, the colt didn’t like the track, he was kicked going to the clubhouse turn, the jockey gave him a horrible ride, the trainer didn’t work him enough, etc.
First, the horse apparently had no physical problems, according to tests after the race. The quarter crack didn’t affect his performance. “I took his shoes off, but that was what we wanted to do anyway,” trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. told BloodHorse.com. “I scoped him and it was clean.” That showed he didn’t bleed through his Lasix or have other internal problems.
“I took a full blood on him (June 11),” he said. “I’ll see what it’s like. I don’t see any issues with his legs. I’m not going to blame the racetrack, everybody else had to run on that racetrack and they had to run in that heat. So I’m not going to blame the track or the heat.”
One criticism was aimed at Dutrow concerning the lone workout during the three weeks between races. “Perhaps Big Brown hadn’t done enough to be in top shape for the 1 1/2 miles,” racing guru Andy Beyer wrote. “If he wasn’t in optimal condition, the hot weather and the rough trip might have affected more than they normally would have.”
Several days after the Belmont Stakes, Dutrow told Associated Press, “I don’t see the horse with a problem, so I have to direct my attention toward the ride. That’s all I can come up with.”
Before they recently met to clear up any differences, jockey Kent Desormeaux said: “I had no horse. He was empty.”
Dutrow, however, told the Daily Racing Form he didn’t know why Desormeaux eased the horse at the top of the stretch. In addition, he said Big Brown had no idea “what the hell was going on going into the first turn” because Desormeaux “was switching him” all over the track.
Co-owner Michael Iavarone differed, “We didn’t tell Kent to ease Big Brown, but we’re glad he did. Kent was worried about the horse, and we’re all glad that he bought him home healthy.”
Dutrow and Iavarone disagree on when the 3-year-old should race again. Ivarone favors the Haskell on Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park and Dutrow prefers the Travers on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
“Well, we are going to have to deal with (the Haskell Invitational Handicap) coming up,” Dutrow said, adding that he’d defer to the owners. “I would like to just train the horse and see how he is. It wouldn’t be out of the question if that is what (Iavarone) wants.”
This year’s Belmont Stakes winner Da ‘Tara is headed to the Travers Stakes. Four winners of Triple Crown’s last leg during the past three decades scored in Saratoga’s premier race, with the last being Birdstone in ‘04.
If Big Brown runs, he’ll attempt to become the fourth Kentucky Derby champ to win in the past 15 years and the third Preakness winner to triumph since ‘01.
If Big Brown goes in the Haskell, he’ll try to become the second Kentucky Derby and fourth Preakness winners to triumph.
Point Given, who finished fifth in the ‘01 Derby, won the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers. He’s one of five horses to both the Haskell and Travers.
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