Da' Tara won the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes today, but the big news was that Big Brown came in last.With a monumental upset, Big Brown failed to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 30 years and stake a claim as one of the greatest 3-year-olds of all time. Instead, the discussion will be all about whether Big Brown's cracked hoof caused him to fade down the stretch. The early word is that Big Brown was not hurt after the race.
Big Brown went off as an overwhelming 1-4 favorite, while Da' Tara was a huge 38-1 underdog. Denis of Cork placed and Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo finished with a photo dead heat for the show.
The rest of the nine-horse field was Guadalcanal, Macho Again, Tale of Ekati and Icabad Crane.
The Triple Crown
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. watches as Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is walked around the shed row by exercise rider Michelle Nevin at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont Stakes horse race takes place June 7. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Exercise rider Michelle Nevin walks Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown around the shed row at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont Stakes horse race takes place June 7. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Exercise rider Michelle Nevin pauses with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown as she walks him around the shedrow at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Trainer Bob Baffert stands in front of a mural at Bodines Casino on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, during its grand opening in Carson City, Nev. Baffert likes Big Brown's chances to win the Triple Crown. "The horse is a super horse," he said. "He just comes from a different cloth. I really think the great horses will get it done. If he's a great horse, he'll get it done." (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT TV OUT NO SALES **
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While pounding his fist on the table, jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode Big Brown to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horse races, says, "I am the promoter of the sport right now. There is nothing I want to do more than promote this sport," Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at Bodines Casino and Restaurant in Carson City, Nev. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal. Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES TV OUT **
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Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horse races aboard Big Brown, smiles Tuesday, May 20, 2008, during the opening of Bodines Casino and Resort in Carson City, Nev. The casino is part owned by Mike Pegram. He owned Real Quiet, the horse Desormeaux rode to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1998. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES TV OUT **
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Exercise rider Michelle Nevin stands outside Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown's stall after training at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, relaxes outside the stable at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, laughs as he answers questions for the media at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, answers questions for the media at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-07-2008 @ 6:56PM
Scott said...
They tried to prove he wasn't powered by steroids,
bad move!
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6-07-2008 @ 6:58PM
Jan said...
I am so happy for this colt Da'Tara, he ran his heart out and stiffed all the Big Brown fans. Congratulations on a safe race to the owners, trainer Nick Zitto and to the jockey, this was just such a marvelous and thrilling race.
Too bad the trainer had to act so nasty but are we really surprized?
This colt has a lot of heart and should be given the accolades he deserved.
Thank you Da'Tara, you are my hero.
Jan in Beaver, Utah
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6-07-2008 @ 7:01PM
Wilbur said...
UPS: out as sponsor.
In: Alpo and Elmer's.
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6-07-2008 @ 7:17PM
Marty said...
That is silly to think a horse who runs as wonderful as Big Brown does on any given day would be referred to as Alpo or ELmer's you must know nothing about horses. He will live like a king the rest of his life whether he is on or off the track his fate is sealed, he is great.
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6-07-2008 @ 7:18PM
gerarno said...
big brown should have won and thats all there is to it! he just wasent feeling well obviously! HE'LL BE BACK!
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6-07-2008 @ 7:27PM
carl said...
#4
Remember that the first time he shoots blanks in the stud stable.You seem to be the one who knows nothing bout the way horse racing works
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6-07-2008 @ 7:28PM
glishthefish said...
I thought what Big Brown's jockey did for him was great. To not run a horse after you realize it's just not going to happen, takes guts. Especially with how many people were rooting for him. Either way, the champion and Big Brown are amazing. Marty is right though...he will live the life. As for Jan in Utah...do they teach you how to spell there?
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6-07-2008 @ 7:33PM
business travel agent said...
poor horse finished last. hope hes ok
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6-07-2008 @ 7:46PM
Tony.A. said...
I believe that Big Browns jockey gave him a bad ride. The horse that the number one position and out of the gate he was number on then he took the horse to the out side then back to the inside and once more to the outside.This is the second time this jocky lost a triple crown race.
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6-07-2008 @ 7:47PM
kasey barton said...
another damaging race for big money for a young horse. If BB does not pan out as a stud, then he will pan out. That is racing - that is the business - and, the French do love Thoroughbred with fries.
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6-07-2008 @ 7:53PM
duane said...
Steroids have a mental as well as a physical effect. To send a horse out the do the most important race in his life while he is experiencing steroid withdrawal is either stupid or deliberate. Has anyone checked where the owner and trainer put their money.
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6-07-2008 @ 7:53PM
Rico said...
Feel bad for the horse but not for the people around him - they were all overconfident cocky jerks
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6-07-2008 @ 8:07PM
Bill Julian said...
Big Brown had one workout since May 17th when he won the Preakness. So did Da'Tara when he finished second,in the Barbaro Stakes, beaten 1/2, on the same track the same day. But Da'Tara might not have missed training days going into the Belmont as Big brown must have trying to repair a quarter crack that takes more time than they had before the Belmont. Watching Big Brown throw his head up and start to flounder shows a horse that has bled through the Lasix. I believe missing training with a short 5 furlong workout caused the trainer to run a short horse. Been there done that. Don't blame the quarter crack, blame the days missed on training. It was a deep track and it took a very fit horse to perform 1 1/2 miles on a record hot day. Big Brown is a champion and will continue to win.
Throughbred Horse Trainer
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6-07-2008 @ 8:09PM
Bonnie Bixby said...
My heart goes out to Big Brown. I was so hoping that he would make it. I am glad he was not hurt that is important. Maybe he can try again.
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6-07-2008 @ 8:13PM
Dr Huxtable said...
@Bonnie "Maybe he can try again." Are you retarded? Or just really dumb?
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6-07-2008 @ 8:53PM
Robert Brigman said...
Did you realize how much money the trainer and the jockey got for this . UPS and Jimmy Hoffa Jr must renogotiate a new contract . This race was fixed .... Big Time .. check out who bet on Da Tara thats who controls horse racing .Oh yea the only crack this trainer was worried about was in his PIPE .
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6-07-2008 @ 8:56PM
Gwen said...
Well, for all those that dont know how the racing world does work....heres a little FYI! Three Chimneys farm has already bought the breeding rights to Big Brown for $50 million so there is not Elmers, Alpo, or French fries side for this horse, not matter if he shoots blanks or not! Also, he will not be back except for the Breeders Cup in October because one of the co-owners has already stated that Big Brown will not be racing at 4 years old! So...take that as you may!
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6-07-2008 @ 9:14PM
Jimmy May said...
Big Brown's is a true CHAMPION. His owner is something much less for refusing to talk to the media following the race.
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6-07-2008 @ 9:14PM
wright said...
if winstrol withdrawal is the reason for big browns' lack of interest in this race, then that's a good thing. until more is known about his physical condition, i cling to the hope that he was finally able to listen to his own body and brain, which until recently has been chemically numbed and jacked by greedy humans. perhaps he just said "NO! it's too hot to move fast and i'm not gonna do it!"
despite mercenary motives attributed to desormeaux by commenters -- that he was betting against his very best ride -- his decision to listen to big brown and pull back was a great one, and maybe even spared precious viewers (betters) from witnessing another hideous "accident" on the track.
other tidbits gleaned from various reports are that big brown is on lasix (a diuretic used to prevent fluid retention in humans) and that the boisterous blather from his trainer (dutrow) and his hedge-[fund]-horse corporation owners suddenly suddenly ended 2 days before the race. why?
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6-07-2008 @ 10:35PM
Martin said...
Did they really stop giving steroids to Big Brown two months ago? What is the effect of halting the monthly steroids? Which horses in the race were on steroids? Did Big Brown's jockey run a reasonable race, especially at the start? Since the odds on Big Brown were 1:4 and the odds on the winner were 35:1, did anyone have a lot of money on the winner?
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