Will Big Brown win the Triple Crown?

Question

I was not terribly impressed with the level of competition in the Preakness were you? Will the Belmont have a stronger field and how will Big Brown fair with the longer distance?

Answer 1

I don't think Big Brown is a shoe-in for the Triple Crown at all.  He'll be facing Casino Drive in the Belmont, and as others have pointed out, Casino Drive has pretty much perfect breeding for that race.  He's also very talented - probably much more so than the horses Big Brown has faced so far.

On the other hand, even if Big Brown's competition wasn't impressive, his time was.  I mean, it wasn't record breaking,  but he was barely trying and he still beat the times of previous winners like Afleet Alex.

We'll see...

Answer 2

I'm also noticing the weak fields in the Derby and the Preakness.  Are they trying to artificially make a Triple Crown Winner by keeping the competition mediocre?

Answer 3

He was impressive but not much competition as alot of good horses are waiting to spoil his bid at the Belmont.  I am going to bet him in an exacta but I think I'm going to put some money on a few others to win.

Answer 4

no the Preakness wasn't very great as far as competition...big brown definently had that race won .I really think that big brown will win because that horse has a heart for racing and the jockey is pretty great with him.

Big brown will be fine with the longer distance ..the horse loves this .  artical online:

Horse racing: Big Brown wins Preakness, needs Belmont to capture first Triple Crown in 30 years

The Associated Press

May 17, 2008

BALTIMORE — Big Brown powered to the lead turning for home Saturday and then sailed through the stretch to win the Preakness, still perfect and squarely pointed down the path toward thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown in 30 years.

Just as he did two weeks ago in a Kentucky Derby marred by the breakdown of the second-place finisher Eight Belles, the colt named for UPS delivered another stunning win, this time by 5¬ lengths. Macho Again was second and Icabad Crane was third.

But this time Big Brown broke from the middle of an undistinguished pack and jockey Kent Desormeaux took him off the pace. They ran third down the backstretch before roaring around the final turn and pulled away from the field.

“It was almost like the Kentucky Derby. He just set sail,” Desormeaux said.

In the Derby, Big Brown started on the far outside of 19 horses and used an explosive finishing kick to win by 4œ lengths, the tightest margin in his 5-0 career.

Big Brown joined Majestic Prince (1969), Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (1977) and Smarty Jones (2004) as undefeated Derby and Preakness winners.

“He just keeps on getting better,” trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said.

The bay colt is the first 3-year-old since Smarty Jones to go into the Belmont Stakes in three weeks, June 7, with a triple try in play. It’s been 30 years since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont to give racing its 11th Triple Crown winner.

Answer 5

Not sure what the Belmont will bring, but that is a h**l of a horse.  He seems so stronger and knows he is a winner. Plus the jockey knows completely what needs to be done in the race.  Obviously the jockey didn't need the whip as Big brown was far aware of what he wanted the outcome to be.

Answer 6

I think the power and speed that BB has displayed play well for the longer track.

Answer 7

Ditto what Dave said above.  Casino Drive has been held just for the Belmont. He's bred for distance and has prior Belmont winners in his lineage.

Answer 8

Big Brown will love the longer dstance, thats where he does the best, he paces most of the race and takes off in the stretch. I think it should be easy as pie for him to win this next race.

Answer 9

he'll only get beat by the classic belmont ringer