Big Brown at the Haskell Inv. this weekend...

Question

So what do y'all think? Is the Brown horse going to come back as a true champ or is he faded and going to the breeding shed? Opinions?

Bonus:

Curlin came in second on his last out -although it was on turf-. What are the chances of these two meeting at the Breeders Cup Classic afterall? Is this the start of this year's BC Classic rivalry? You be the judge.

Answer 1

I thought he was done when he ran two sluggish workouts after the Belmont.  But then he ran 6 furlongs in 1:10 last week.  All doubts are gone.  Most horses don't even run 1:10 in 6 furlong races.  His workout today was only 38 seconds for 3 furlongs, but they put him on the grass to protect his feet and the dogs were out pretty far off the rail... so that 38 seconds is better than it sounds.

We know at least that Big Brown's going to run better than Da Tara!  (Da Tara finished last in the Jim Dandy on Sunday)

I do think that Curlin's going to end up in the Classic.  I think they'll try one more grass race at Saratoga this summer (the owner wants to do the grass again and according to his website poll, the fans do too), but unless he does amazingly, I don't see them sending him to Europe.  

Only time will tell.

Answer 2

I hope Big Brown comes back bigger and better than ever and proves himself the true champion that he is hopefully without any meds.

I also hope that he goes to the Breeders Cup Classic along with Curlin as they will no doubt be competing against Aidan O'Brien's top 3yo Henrythenavigator who has just won 4 x Group 1's in a row over here and in Ireland.

That will be some race, good luck to Big Brown he deserves a comeback.xx

Answer 3

I think BB will run his guts out this weekend.  I have no doubt that Dutrow was just so grossly overconfident before the Belmont that he severely undertrained the horse -- AND shot his mouth off about the Winstrol to the point that he had to take it away from the horse to look better in the eyes of the public.  He bought into the aura of invincibility that this colt had created with his overpowering performances and started thinking it didn't really matter all that much what he did with him, that he would still win.  Of course Winstrol helps, that's why we use it!  It increases muscle mass, encourages better eating habits and gives horses boldness & confidence, without the over-aggressiveness of Equipoise.  No one in their right mind would make a change like that in the weeks right before such a huge event-but he got cocky and started thinking out loud and put himself in a corner he couldn't get out of.  He knows it, he's just too embarassed to admit it.  That's the beauty and the curse of this game.  Nothing else will strip you of your ego and drop you on your you-know-what as fast as horse racing!  You can bet the colt has been drilled to within an inch of his life for this trip and unless he's got some weird, hidden flaw like an undetected heart defect or something, he should blow their doors off Sunday.  I hope he does.

As far as hooking Curlin this fall -- there's no telling at this point.  They won't try it unless he runs like a monster again, and/or Curlin tails off  between now and then.  Everything can change in an instant in this game.  I'd love to see them both at their peak together, but then again I almost hate watching really good horses hook up.  They always try so hard and want it so badly and unfortunately -- someone has to lose.

Answer 4

well this race will make or break him thats for sure.  if Big Brown loses thats it, he will be retired.  

i think that he will win.  his competition isnt as bad as it looks.  but without Harlem Rocker in the race the derby and preakness Big Brown romps this field.  he's made some of the best moves ive ever seen on a racetrack.  i wont except that he's a mediocre horse.  if he is healthy he will be victorious.

Big Brown is my favorite horse of my lifetime. and ive been a fan of horse racing my whole life.  it would be sad if i bestowed that honor on a horse that goes down as nothing special.

ill tell you what, if he comes out and wins by a few lengths Big Brown fever will sweep the nation once more.  

the Breeders Cup Classic will be a very strong field this year i suspect.  maybe the strongest in a long long time.  but if big brown wins his next two or three races, you know who i think will win.  curlin is not unbeatable.  

Answer 5

he should win

it would be nice 2 see him and curlin go at it