BIG BROWN draws rail in Belmont, third leg of the US Triple Crown

Big Brown and Rick Dutrow Jr
(Stan Honda/AFP/Getty)

Trainer Rick Dutrow wanted the outside gate, but got the inside in the draw for tomorrow’s Belmont Stakes in New York reports Mike Hedge. Bidding to become the first horse in 30 years to win the US Triple Crown, Big Brown is a 2-5 favourite for the 2400m event.

Big Brown came from the outside gate in a 20 horse field to win the Kentucky Derby and Rick Dutrow wanted a similar draw in the Belmont, although the field of 10 doesn’t present quite the same challenge. While Dutrow’s opinion has to be respected, most analysts believe the inside at Belmont is a far better option than the outside on what is the biggest major track in America.

Belmont has a 1000m run in which tends to give every horse a chance, but to be caught wide on the track’s long, sweeping turns is regarded as suicide. One of the few concerns surrounding Big Brown is that he has a maiden drawn on his outside, which could provide nuisance value due to his inexperience in the gates or unruliness in running.