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Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell winner Big Brown is likely to have his final breeze on Tuesday over the Aqueduct turf course as he prepares for his date in the Monmouth Stakes on September 13 at Monmouth Park.
“I’m looking to give him his final breeze on Tuesday,” said race horse trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who conditions the 3-year-old colt by Boundary, Big Brown. “I have permission to work him on the turf and that’s what I’d like to do.”
Big Brown had his last work over the Aqueduct turf course on September 3, breezing in 1:15 3/5. The dual-classic winner stables at Aqueduct with the Rick Dutrow string and will van down to Monmouth Park for next Saturday’s 1 1/8 mile Monmouth Stakes turf test.
Four weeks of live horse racing remain in the 2008 season at Monmouth Park and the Oceanport racetrack will continue its regular schedule of Wednesday through Sunday.
Monmouth will be open on Wednesday, September 3 and continue its live racing schedule through closing day on Sunday, September 28. As always gates will open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 12:50 p.m.
The highlight of the September calendar will be the Monmouth Stakes on Saturday, September 13, which is set to feature 2008 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell winner Big Brown who will make the Monmouth Stakes his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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.
Michael Iavarone, co-owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, said Wednesday he has no plans to enter his colt in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on August 30 despite an invitation from Jess Jackson, the majority owner of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin.
Race horse owner Jess Jackson offered to donate $50,000 to charity if Big Brown takes on Curlin in 1 1/8-mile Woodward on the dirt. Jess Jackson’s invitation comes after Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow said he thought Big Brown could beat Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on October 25.
By GREG MELIKOV
The 139th Travers Stakes could boast double-digit runners for the first time in 15 years since 1993 Kentucky Derby champ Sea Hero roared from back of the pack to defeat 10 challengers.
There could be that many 3-year-olds in the $1 million contest on Aug. 23. Winners of Triple Crown races the past 15 years have done well, winning seven times, including four that scored in the Belmont Stakes.
That’s a good omen for Belmont winner Da’ Tara, hoping to rebound from a disappointing seventh place finish in the Jim Dandy on July 27. He broke inward, went to the lead, dueled along the rail until the far turn and steadily faded to last, ending up 24 1/4 lengths behind Macho Again after 1 1/8 miles.
While Da’ Tara was capturing the Belmont, odds-on favorite Big Brown ended up ninth and last. However, he took the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 3 and will go into another race en route to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown’s schedule for the rest of the season remained uncertain following his victory in the Haskell Invitational August 3 at Momnouth Park.
It appears doubtful that Big Brown will enter the Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga, although he still is pointed toward the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
“We’ll take a closer look at him later this afternoon and then worry about down the line,” race horse trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said Monday. “Once we see how he came out of (the Haskell), we’ll start to look ahead.”
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.
Six race horses will face Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown in the $1-million Haskell Invitational on Sunday, August 3, at Monmouth Park.
The 1 1/8 mile Haskell Invitational field of race horses with jockeys and weight line up as follows:
- Magical Forest ridden by jockey Jorge Chavez carries 118 lbs.
- Cool Coal Man ridden by jockey Eddie Castro, 118 lbs.
- Alaazo ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano, 118 lbs.
- Big Brown ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, 122 lbs.
- Nistle’s Crunch ridden by jockey Elvis Trujillo, 118 lbs.
- Coal Play ridden by jockey Joe Bravo, 118 lbs.
- Atoned ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, 118 lbs.
The Haskell Invitational is the 13th race in Monmouth Park’s August 3 horse racing program. The 2008 Haskell post time is 6:14 pm.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown returns to the track Sunday for the $1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park August 3.
Big Brown endured his first loss in 6 career starts in his last race, when he was eased and finished last in the Belmont Stakes, ending his bid to become the horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.
“Except for his last race, he’s done everything you can ask a horse to do,” said race horse trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who boasted Big Brown would win the Belmont Stakes. “I don’t think the Monmouth surface will be a problem for him. I think it’s tailor-made for him.”
Horse racing oddsmakers are confident Big Brown will return to his previous form when he won his first 5 career races by an average of nearly 8 lengths. The 3-year-old colt of Boundary, Big Brown, has been installed the 1-2 morning-line favorite in the race which will feature 6 other rivals.
By GREG MELIKOV
Not long ago the expected field for the Haskell Invitational was six or seven. Not it appears there could be as many as eight or nine 3-year-olds going in Monmouth Park’s premier race on Sunday.
For some reason, Big Brown doesn’t scare away the opposition. In fact, the fewest challengers that took on the son of Boundary were in the Belmont Stakes on June 9 when he finished ninth and last losing for the first time in six starts.
The way Big Brown has been training ought to scare way some opposition because the signs point to an excellent outing. On July 26, he breezed six furlongs in a nifty 1:10 4/5 at Aqueduct.
And apparently, all is copasetic between trainer Rick Dutrow and jockey Kent Desormeaux as the latter gets the mount again.
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