BIG BROWN scares off rivals for Preakness

Big Brown (John Gress / Reuters)

Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown is likely to have a complete new set of rivals when he attempts the second leg of the US Triple Crown in the Preakness Stakes on May 17. Early indications are that none of the 18 colts that finished behind Big Brown will saddle up at Pimlico.

Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby in emphatic style, coming from the widest gate to register a dominant victory. Trainer Rick Dutrow said the Preakness was well and truly on the agenda for Big Brown, but with a little less bullishness than he displayed in his pre-Derby show of bravado. “I really liked him in the Derby because everything was perfect,” Rick Dutrow said.

“Now things start to change. Maybe there’s gonna be some hotshot speed horse in (the Preakness), maybe it’ll rain and be sloppy, maybe some other horse will really like it “There’s a lot of things that’ll be different now, but I still like our chances because I think we have the best horse.”

Rick Dutrow said his major concern was the short break before the Preakness. “When this horse goes into the race the right way, with good timing and all, I don’t see anyone beating him – but now that’s not happening,” he said. “He’s gotta’ come right back off a huge, huge race. I know he looks like he’s the best horse, but Pimlico’s a different game.” Among the new runners expected to face Big Brown in the Preakness are Behindatthebar, El Gato Malo, Giant Moon, Harlem Rocker, Kentucky Bear, Stevil, Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo.

Extract from Stallions Daily Bulletin