Big Brown Continues Bid for Triple Crown

No dirt in HIS face. Big Brown passed the white-glove check at the finish on Saturday as he handily breezed himself past the competition in the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimloco Racetrack in Maryland.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux executed a masterful ride keeping the big bay colt in position to pounce on this second treasured Jewel in the journey towards a Triple Crown victory.

Desormeaux was taxed to hold the champion through the first three turns, stating as he watched the replay of the race that in the final turn he had been forced to " drag him back, swing him out, and that's when I knew things were going to be really cozy," adding that he and Big Brown were "just cantering along," through most of the backstretch.

When he finally asked Big Brown for a move at the head of the stretch, they were three horses wide. The colt almost INSTANTLY gained three lengths on the competition and was being pulled-up well before the wire.

While viewing the end of the race where he had gained such a formidable lead on the rest of the pack, Desormeaux affirmed that he was "actually, truly just slowing him down." The big bay took such a commanding lead so easily that Desormeaux ended up overriding the race just a bit. But I will add, editorially, that he NEVER touched his whip.

"I just let him go. Bye-bye! WHOO!!!" stated an ecstatic Desormeaux after the race.

But really the horse responding to him as he did wasn't a huge surprise to the rider who holds the record for the most races won in a single year and American Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey. Pre-race he himself was chomping at the bit, and couldn't "wait to find out what I have to do." He said about Big Brown that he was a, "...lovely ride. Beautiful horse, can't wait to find out my destiny."

Well find it he did. Big Brown and Desormeaux will be the 4th horse since 2002 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but the test truly comes at the Belmont in three weeks time. Is THIS the horse for the ages?

Eleven horses since 1978 have won the first two races on their way to immortality, but have come up short in the long and arduous trip at Belmont. Will this be just another poser? A horse that can't go the distance, literally?

Only time can answer that question. But if I had to put my OWN money down? I'm all for Big Brown.

After all of the media frenzy in the past few weeks since his Kentucky Derby win was overshadowed by the unfortunate breakdown and subsequent euthanasia of second place finisher, the filly Eight Belles, I am READY for a champion. And I am ready for it NOW.

And I hope you are too...