2008 PREAKNESS STAKES

© 2008 HORSEPHOTOS/NTRA

Big Brown rolls under a hand ride to win The 133rd Running of The Preakness Stakes.

BIG BROWN RUNS AWAY FROM THE FIELD SETTING UP A TRIPLE CROWN RUN FOR THE AGES

THE PREAKNESS STAKES OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAY 17, 2007

PREAKNESS STAKES (133RD RUNNING)

$1,000,000 GRADE I

PIMLICO RACECOURSE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

ONE AND THREE-SIXTEENTH MILES

MAIN TRACK: FAST

BIG BROWN

Winner

133rd Preakness Stakes

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux

Trainer: Ruchard Dutrow, Jr.

Owner: IEAH Stables, Michael A. Iavarone & Paul Pompa Jr.

Bay Colt

Sire: Boundry

Dam: Mien (Nureyev)

Breeder: Monticule

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

  23.59, 46.81, 1:10.48, 1:35.72, 1:54.80

Scratched Horses: Behindatthebar

BROWN DELIVERS - ONCE AGAIN

May 17, 2008

Preakness Stakes

Pimlico Racecourse: Baltimore, Maryland

It has been a trying two  weeks for the thoroughbred industry as everyone on the outside looking in has been finding various faults with the industry after the horrendous break down of filly, Eight Belles, in the Derby.  The tragic events of that day overshadowed much of the pomp and circumstance that usually follows a Derby winner to Pimlico for the second leg of the series.  Of course NBC would capitalize ad nauseum during their coverage of the race making it virtually impossible to get on with the days events.   Watching this event on TV was harrowing enough worrying about another incident it was not needed for NBC to to try an point out every flaw of the industry during their two plus hours of coverage.  While this coverage cast a dark light on this sport thankfully though that would be all the suspense there would be on this day as Big Brown would hold court once again on the afternoon showing the world that the Derby had taking none of the starch out of his act.

Twelve would enter the starting gate, but Gayego would be the only returning foe for Derby winner Big Brown.  The other starters in the Derby had their cup runneth over with the Derby winner and wanted no part of a rematch, and for good reason.  After breaking sharply Big Brown would rate off of Gayego and Riley Tucker and loped down the backside as jockey Kent Desormeaux would get the sophomore off the fence down the backside and into striking position enter the far turn.  Even in his canter Big Brown pulled himself and his jockey to the leader as the field was entering the stretch.  In the lane Big Brown quickly took command as his jockey took a peak under his armpit to gauge his competition for the final quarter mile.  In deep stretch there was no competition as Big Brown strolled home under wraps reserving some much needed energy for his date with destiny in three weeks at Belmont to his trainers delight.

As for the rest it was all a race for second as Macho Again and Icabad Crane got up for second and third respectively.  With his awesome performance today the doubters who thought the Derby winner would bounce were wrong and as it was he was fairly fresh after this race which leads us to a very good question.  How good is this horse?  The answer to that question will probably not come until he races older horses for the first time in the fall.  Until then he is by far and away the best three-year-old in the United States.  Until this crop races against older competition the jury is out on the collectively.  Now it is on to The Belmont Stakes and a homecoming for trainer Rick Dutrow and his great three-year-old and his ever growing bandwagon.  The racing world, who am I kidding?  the entire world will be eager with anticipation to watch hopefully the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed completed the triple in 1987 as well as becoming the first undefeated winner of the triple since Seattle Slew in 1977.  It seems fitting that we could crown a champion in New York.  A big horse for a big city, see you at The Belmont Stakes.

For the recap of the race see below.

Twelve went post ward for the second leg of the 2008 Triple Crown.  At the break Tres Borrachos and Kentucky Bear stumbled immediately moving them to the middle/back of the pack.  Gayego would go to the the front as Big Brown was all too eager to give his Kentucky Derby foe the lead going into the first turn.  Riley Tucker would sit another length and half back in second as Big Brown was inside in third.  Down the backside and the leaders stayed the same as Big Brown would get outside the two pacesetters as they passed three-quarters in 1:10.48.  Into the turn Big Brown drew up alongside the frontrunners and moved to the front heading for home as he effortlessly glided to the lead never seeming to ever get truly cranked up as Kent Desormeaux measured the post time favorites speed as he was looking underneath his armpit about half-way through the turn to the wire exhibiting all the confidence in the world that his colt would win this second leg of the triple crown.  The two other pacesetter wilted in the stretch as Big Brown drew off in hand to win The 2008 Preakness Stakes by an official five and one-quarter lengths on the wire, but it easily could have been an eighth of a mile if the winner was asked at any point to run in the final three-eights of a mile.  Macho Again made a five wide move in the turn and closed well for second while Icabad Crane weaved through traffic after being in twelfth position at the half-mile marker to finish third.