BIG BROWN Triple Crown???

UpInClass

2008 Kentucky Derby ~ Winner: BIG BROWN


2008 Preakness Stakes ~ Winner: BIG BROWN



Post - Horse - Jockey - Odds
1. Big Brown, K. Desormeaux, 2-5
2. Guadalcanal, J. Castellano, 50-1
3. Macho Again, G. Gomez, 20-1
4. Denis of Cork, R. Albarado, 12-1
5. Casino Drive, E. Prado, 7-2
6. Da’ Tara, A. Garcia, 30-1
7. Tale of Ekati, E. Coa, 20-1
8. Anak Nakal, J. Leparoux, 30-1
9. Ready’s Echo, J. Velazquez, 30-1
10. Icabad Crane, J. Rose, 20-1

PAST PERFORMANCES:
http://www.brisnet.com/bris_link/pdfs/hgrahammotion_112893.pdf

Shan75

An exciting day in the sport on Saturday.Can he do it as so many have failed in the last 30 years?Strictly on his Derby and Preakness victories he looks unbeatable but this has been said many times before.Is there something lurking in the shadows to upset the day?Casino Drive looks to be the one most fancied to shake up Big Brown but the way Icabad Crane finished in the Preakness he cannot be ruled out.I will be watching anyway as I'd hate to miss this history making attempt.

MrDap

I think Big Brown has to be taken on tonight

He is by Boundary (champion us sprinter...grandsidre Danzig) out of a Nureyev mare.

Got to be worth taking on with that sort of breeding....going to be running on fumes in the last furlong here especially on this deeper surface. Had had an interrupted preparation too...sore heels after the Preakness and then a hoof problem.

Denis of Cork looks the won to me.....he was staying on like a lion in the Derby after Calvin Borel planted him nearly 30 lengths last!!! Well bred...Harlands Holiday out of an Unridled well. Been given a full 5 week break since the derby and has reportedly strengthed up since then and has been working brilliantly. Robbie Albarado takes over too. Trainer knows all about busting Triple Crown dreams as he was Easy Goer's work rider back in the day.

Quite tempted by Anak Nakal too...he's finished the same distance behind Big Brown as Birdstone (same trainer Nick Zito) did in the derby b4 he got his revenge in the Belmont. Given a 5 week break too just like Birdstone and been preparing just upstate at Saratoga for this. Also he's by Victory Gallop who stopped Kent Deresmoux in 88 from winning the Triple Crown. Julien Leproux rides so this horse is going to get the office whatever happens.

any thoughts?

Denis of Cork eachway 7/1 seems reasonable to me..as he'll be staying on stoutely as others (hopefully) start to wilt.

small play on anak nakal @ 40s+

Shan75

Casino Drive has been scratched which is a pity.I agree Big Brown's breeding suggests he will have a problem with the distance but his class may see him through.As for Denis of Cork he wasn't involved in the hustle in the Derby and was staying on past horses who went with the early pace.He was given such an easy time early that it may not pay to take his fast finishing literally.He may be better over the longer distance but I have my doubts.I'm finding it difficult to believe that Big Brown will be beaten unless those injuries take their toll but the two I'm interested in for places are Icabad Crane and Tale of Ekati.I think Icabad Crane will like the distance and Tale of Ekati will like the track.Anak Nakal will enjoy the trip if his breeding is anything to go by but I just don't think he has enough class.Despite his breeding Macho Again might struggle with distance.The rest seem to have no chance.

MrDap

They really shouldn't have ran him last night.

Big Brown was worth a lot more on Friday than he's worth today. They never should have ran him, but dutrow and BBs connections didn't have the balls to do what they should, and there's the result. Everyone loses.

If they didn't run him because of a injury, people would have had him in their mind as a very likely triple crown winner, and he should also have been able to come back and win the classic and other great races, that would have made him one of the most expensive studhorses ever. I doub't we will see BB in the winnerspaddock again.

But hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Shan75

Very good call Mr Dap in relation to taking on Big Brown.Not too far wrong with your assessment of Denis of Cork also.As you say hindsight is a wonderful thing but it really would have been hard not to run him unless he had something very serious wrong.