There was much conjecture about Big Brown’s outside post position in the Kentucky Derby, before he won the race by nearly five lengths. He drew mid-field in the Preakness and won that race by more than five lengths.
In the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7, with a Triple Crown championship on the line, Big Brown has drawn the #1 post position – a slot that has produced more Belmont Stakes winners than any other. The rail position in the 1 1/2 mile race, where saving ground can be a deciding factor, has produced 23 winners. The third and fifth posts rank second with 13 winners each.
“I just can’t see the post getting him beat,” Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow told Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form.”If he breaks good out of the One Hole, it will be to our advantage. And if he doesn’t, he has plenty of time to get out of there. There’s no way a post position is going to get Big Brown beat.”
Big Brown had his final Belmont prep on Tuesday and was on target with a 5-furlong breeze in 1:00 and galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:14. He will go back to the track to be jogged today. A quarter crack on the inside of his left front foot, attended to by an equine foot specialist since the Preakness, is scheduled to have a protective patch put on it Friday afternoon.
A win would be especially poignant for Big Brown’s rider, Kent Desormeaux, who was beaten by a nose aboard Real Quiet 10 years ago, when Victory Gallop blindsided him with an outside rush. The loss not only cost the Triple Crown, but a $5 million winner’s bonus. This year’s win is worth $600,000 and would increase Big Brown’s earnings to $3,276,700, with 5 wins from 5 starts.
Big Brown has been installed as the morning line favorite at 2 to 5, with Casino Drive second at 7 to 2, and Denis of Cork third at 12 to 1.
Casino Drive, who drew post #5 under Edgar Prado, is out of Better Than Honour, the dam of 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil, as well as last year’s winner Rags to Riches, the first filly to claim the race since 1905. Like Big Brown, Casino Drive is undefeated. He has only had two starts, one in Kyoto, Japan, and the 9-furlong G2 Peter Pan Stakes under Kent Desormeaux on May 10, at Belmont Park.
Denis of Cork, who drew from post #4, finished third in the Kentucky Derby under Calvin Borel. He will be ridden in the Belmont by Robby Albarado, who was aboard Denis of Cork to win the G3 Southwest Stakes on February 18.
Icabad Crane, with Jeremy Rose in the irons from post #10, was third in the Preakness.