Big Brown at Belmont (Triple Crown race)?

Question

I’ve been watching Big Brown (check the videos below) and I think that he is a real race horse. I think he is a freak of nature (with a turbo button –white patch- to boost) and that we are in the presence of greatness, but that’s just my opinion.

What’s your opinion? Is the 3YO field weak this year (can you show evidence of this)?

Can Casino Drive really take him at the Belmont Stakes? I’ve enclosed the only two races that CD has been in. Does he impress you as much as BB? I know he has the pedigree for the distance, but can he really beat the “Freak”?

Can Dennis of Cork really pull it out? He finished fifth at Illinois and a far third at the K-Derby. Does he really have it in him? What about Macho Again?

What about BB’s front feet (can they handle all this running)? In the challenge of a “game” race can he really win a duel? What do you think?

Big Brown’s races

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw20IJnlT4c&feature=related His maiden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L-vrpMD8PA&feature=related Allowance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnomqXMqBmY&feature=related Florida Derby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi9H_G4ztIU Kentucky Derby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsWAH9JZhwA&feature=related Preakness Stakes

Casino Drive’s races

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cprqSfGFLQ&feature=related Maiden in Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7tiH2g_8CQ Peter Pan

Answer 1

I will not have win money on Big Brown because if he does win, he will not pay anything worth the bet.  I am not too convinced that he is a sure lock in.  How many times in the past have we seen the Derby-Preakness winner falter in the Belmont.  I think that Casino Drive and Macho Again will be in the money. Add Behiondthebar and Tale if Ekati and we may not see a triple crown,

But if we do, I would NOT give the credit to that trainer.

Answer 2

I think CD is good - but he doesn't have the speed burst BB has.  If BB is healthy, I don't see CD beating him.  CD is quality and certainly has the breeding to go the distance - but BB is smart, patient & has a stride and burst of speed I just don't see equalled by other horses racing right now.  Regardless of the Belmont - I would love to see Curlin v BB in the Breeders Classic... I think that's probably the best test possible of BB - how can he run against older horses & champions...

Answer 3

the bar horse if he is healthy! the trainer is setting him up for this race! i think the trainer knows best in this case and gave the bar a rest for this 1mile and 1/2 race...i do not think he was hurt at all...casino drive has the breeding and is certainly part of the trifecta!

Answer 4

BB is a good horse, freak of nature...NO! champion......NOT YET! time will tell wether this yrs 3YO'S are weak, pay attention to BB's opposition in the future, if they go on and win good quality races then i guess you could say that is opposition wasn't weak and that bb is a champion, if they dont continue on and win good quality races, then perhaps this years 3YO'S are weak and bb is just a good horse and nothing more, like i said time will tell!!

as for the belmont....... i have 2 concerns,

1) bb has had 5 races, fatige will take its toll eventually wether or not that happens in the belmont we will know soon enough! were CD has only had 2 starts and is the fresher horse!

2) the japanesse dont mess around with horse racing, they arguably produce the best stayers in the world, and they didnt bring him half way across the world to run second!

a couple of years ago the japanesse brought 2 horses to australia (thats were im from) for the melbourne cup.......... its the second richest turf race in the world there horses smashed ours finishing 1st and 2nd! so i guess im saying dont be to quick to write of casino drive!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Melbou...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3mJwPa1k...

Answer 5

triple crown would mean a lot to horse racing, but what bothers me is there are many horses out there much better then him who havent won it, mainly due to the other horses having competition. BB only competition was sadly put down ( eight belles) with that being said i dont see big brown winning it. Right now he is hurt with a 5/8'' crack in his front left hoof. but who knowes.

Answer 6

Big Brown has developed a "slight" quarter crack.  Just announced this morning (May 25).  The news is at http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/45398...

According to his trainer, it's very minor and if everything is good, the colt will be on the track for full training by Thursday.

I don't think he's a lock to win, especially with this news.

Answer 7

I wouldn't call Big Brown a freak.His times are no faster than previous Derby, Preakness winners.The 3yo field is weak this year.Casino drive is very capable of winning the Belmont.

Answer 8

Nope, Big Brown not a sure thing for the Belmont.  Casino Drive isn't the only horse in the Belmont with good breeding for the distance, so it could go to an overlooked longshot.  Like the guy above me said Big Brown has a quarter crack now.  Maybe the crack isn't such a big deal, but he's missed 2 or 3 days of training and is gonna miss some more.    

Big Brown hasn't earned The Freak title.  He won five races against weak horses. If you need evidence of the KD fields weakness look at their Beyer Speed ratings and mediocre preps.  The Preakness was worse, it was downright pitiful.  Big Brown was the only horse in it that had won a Grade 1 race.  The only other graded stakes winners were Gayego with a G2 and Hey Byrn with a G3.  

A freak of nature is horses like Secretariat.  He won 16 races in 18 months.  He set record times in the Derby and Belmont that stand to this day.

Answer 9

Well, Casino Drive has better breezing times right now than Big Brown. There is no such thing as a sure thing in horse racing. I have seen "the sure thing" bolt at the starting gate and throw his rider as the race started! This is why they call it gambling....