Big Brown, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes has never lost as race in his career.  He came in last place in the Belmont and was eased up.  When Big Brown turned for home, something wasn't right.  He was eased up in the homestretch, was so far behind at the end that his margin of defeat wasn't even charted.  Big Brown was attempting to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, and the first in 30 years.  Jockey Kent Desormeaux, after the race had this to say "He was empty.  He didn't have anything left.  There are no popped tires.  He's just out of gas. I had no horse," Desormeaux said, in stark contrast to Dutrow's unabashed pronouncements that a Triple Crown was "a foregone conclusion. Will Big Brown run for the Breeders Cup?

"He looked as if he clipped heels early on and was RANK in the first turn.  Kent Desormeaux asked him for more and he had nothing.  He did the right thing in easing him.  I don't understand why Desormeau was so dead set on staying up with the leaders.  I guess he was scared to death of getting pinned in.  In this long of a race, trot along behind the leader's group with the horse you know doesn't like to be in the middle and stay back, and then make a move after you run the first mile like he has done in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.  Seemed like a silly strategy given the fact that there wasn't a horse in front of him that could just out run him.

I applaud and commend Kent Desormeaux for pulling up on the horse once he knew the race was out of reach.  I appreciate his good judgment and compassion for this horse.  I guess Big Brown isn't as good as his owner says he is... that’s why we race the races.  Somewhere in a back room in Vegas there are a few dozen sportsbook managers giving one another high fives.  They can't be happier that Big Brown failed.  I feel sorry for the horse and the pressure it was under.  I had a tough time rooting for Big Brown simply because his trainer is such a jerk.  Guaranteeing a victory in a Triple Crown race is just stupid and watching Dutrow act like a big baby after the race was priceless!!  I take my hat off to the jockey for not pushing Big Brown.  It made no sense to beat the horse to a sixth or seventh finish.  Way to go Kent and Big Brown will be back.  Leave the guarantees to the ones doing the event.

Everyone thought this would be the last time they see Big Brown race, but this isn't true.  They thought he would go to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, and a retirement announcement would be held on Sunday.  Instead, Iavarone said IEAH is sticking to its plan to train Big Brown for the Travers Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga.  This is where Big Brown won his first race, and trainer Rick Dutrow's favorite track to race.  "Unless something shows up, we're going to maintain his regular training schedule," Dutrow said, "which will be to breeze in a couple of weeks and point him for the Travers. ... I haven't lost confidence in the horse."

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