Only 11 other horses have done it, and none since 1978, as Big Brown and jockey Kent Desormeaux attempt to become the 12th combo to win the Triple Crown in history on Saturday. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed.
Oddsmakers have Big Brown a 2-5 favorite to win Saturday's race at Belmont Park. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion has drawn post position No. 1 to start the race.
Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said about the upcoming race: "I cannot imagine what I'm going to feel like when we turn for home. I just cannot -- I know that it is going to be a beautiful picture for us. I know our horse is just -- he is just in a zone and I see his competition and I just know that (turning) for home, something is going to come over (the crowd), so I cannot wait."
Since the last winner, 10 horse have entered the Belmont with the opportunity to gain the Crown. This year many think Big Brown has one of the best chances in a long time to win it all. So far the colt has run five races, and has been undefeated in them all. Earnings have reached $2,714,500 over that stretch. The length of victory on average has also been significant, as over the five races Big Brown has won by a total of 39 lengths.
But as we know, this is one of the toughest accomplishments in sports, and there is a lot of unsurety and questions, no matter what a horse has done in the past.
Even so, this should be a great race to watch, and has a great possibility to see a new Triple Crown winner awarded.
The weather for the event looks pretty good, with mostly partly cloudy skies called for, although there is a 30-percent possibility of isolated thunderstorms in the mix.
The scheduled post-time is 6:25 p.m. EST, and will be televised by ABC (NYSE:DIS).
Related Stories:
Report: Trainer says Big Brown hasn't received steroids since April
Derby Museum to offer 30-cent admission if Big Brown wins Triple Crown
Belmont Stakes post position will test Big Brown's inside game
I should be there, I wish to see it!
Posted by: Bernard Lavilliers | June 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Permalink to Comment