Big Brown Fizzles in Triple-Crown Bid

Once again, we wait.

To dream of the day when WE can say we witnessed a Triple Crown winner.

But today is not that day.

Big Brown DID win one honor, the distinction of being the first Triple Crown contender in history to come in dead last in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

The big bay colt disappointed multitudes when jockey Kent Desormeaux felt compelled to pull-up at the final turn.

" This horse is the best horse I've ever ridden," said Desormeaux post-race, "and something's wrong, so I took care of him."

When asked what went wrong for the big bay colt, Desormeaux said, "I have no idea."

It is speculated (at the time of publication) that the odds-on favorite sustained a minor injury causing Desormeaux to feel the change and decide to pull the valuable animal out of contention for the win.

A quarter-crack on his left front foot, amidst other hoof problems has caused a myriad of speculation as to the soundness of Big Brown throughout his short but illustrious career.

So, we wait.

And we dream.

We dream of the day that IT will happen. Might be next year. Might be another 30 years. May never happen again.

But the Triple Crown is a beacon. It is calling.

But for whom?

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Once again, it is "history in the making," or maybe that would be better stated as, "history for the taking?"

For sixth time in ten years a horse attempts to win the coveted Triple Crown after winning the first two legs of the journey.

This years Triple Crown contender, Big Brown, nearly breezed to victory in the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby, winning by 5 and 1/4 lengths and 4 3/4 lengths respectfully, will Saturday's Belmont, with it's longer length prove too much for the big colt?

I don't think so.

Welcome to the world of the editorial. Welcome to my dreams of actually EXPERIENCING a Triple Crown winner.

No horse has won it since1978 when AFFIRMED beat out rival Alydar to win the coveted title.

I was six.

Did I KNOW I was experiencing greatness at that time? No. I was too busy playing with my Star Wars figures to notice such an event.

But this time I'm attentive, (however I still love my Star Wars figures, maybe I'll let them watch the race). I will be riding each stride and yelling in my steed's ear for MORE. I've got my horse, (but the odds are atrocious), and I don't think I'm the only one.

We are a nation of hero-lovers, who worship ordinary people for extraordinary feats. Even if the accomplishment doesn't quite warrant such idolatry, we, as the American Public, slather it on anyways (I mean, c'mon, WHAT is Paris Hilton famous for, really???).

But this time we have a REAL hero. We have Big Brown.

As horsepeople we lament, gossip and debate about the state of the horse's feet. SHOULD he run? SHOULD he breed? SHOULD he be turned out to pasture for two years and run some senior races when and IF he is fixed?

But as sportsmen we wonder if he can win it all regardless of the factors that are against him.

Is THIS the one?

When urged in the Preakness by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown was gone from the pack in three strides, once again, as a HORSEMAN, I say we are going to see greatness on Saturday.

The best.

One more name added to an extremely short list.

A LOT of money has been spent to bring horses from other parts of the world to run against the reluctantly rose-wearing Derby winner. Fresh horses. Endurance horses.

Big Brown has never experienced such a test. Will he be ready? Will he hold up? Will his feet fall off? Will he breakdown?

Will he do the unfathomable and attain immortality?

I certainly hope so....