Big Brown Takes First Leg of Triple Crown

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Big Brown Takes First Leg of Triple Crown

Filed on May 3rd, 2008 in Horse Racing ⋅ ⋅

Big Brown showed just why he was the favorite, even from post 20, with a dominating win at the 134th Kentucky Derby.

Sent off at just under 5/2, Big Brown stalked the leaders a few lengths back for about three-quarters of a mile, before turning it on and coasting to an almost 5-length victory. While this crop of three-year olds was considered relatively weak, Big Brown proved he is for real, and may be so much better than the rest of the class that a Triple Crown winner is a legitimate possibility.

Next up for Big Brown will be the Preakness Stakes on May 17, and if successful there, the Belmont Stakes on June 7. The Preakness runs 1 3/16 miles and the Belmont is the longest at 1 1/2 miles. The Kentucky Derby is run at 1 1/4 miles.

From 1997-2004, six of the seven Kentucky Derby winners went on to win the Preakness, but none of the past three Derby winners prior to Big Brown have won the second leg. Since the Preakness is a slightly shorter race than the Derby, Derby winners have a tendency to be strong in the Preakness as well. Where Triple Crowns have been lost in recent years is in the step up to the 1 1/2 mile race at the Belmont Stakes.

But considering the competition, we may be looking at the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.

The celebration of the Kentucky Derby victory was marred, however, as the filly and runner-up Eight Belles collapsed after the race and had to be euthanized. Apparently, Eight Belles broke both front ankles either during, or right after the race, and was deemed unable to be saved.

Horse racing is such a beautiful sport, but seeing Eight Belles today, and Barbaro in 2006 are reminders that these are animals being pushed to the extreme limits of their physical capabilities. Sad moment on an otherwise great day.

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