Big Brown making case as Derby favorite
Unbeaten colt makes big impression with five-length Florida Derby win
 | Big Brown roared to a five-length victory in The Grade I Florida Derby on Saturday. |
Adam Coglianese / AP |
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rick Dutrow slept in Sunday morning, and who could blame him?
After enjoying one of the greatest days of his career, the trainer is looking forward to even bigger and better times, perhaps on the first Saturday in May.
Big Brown had Dutrow in awe following a five-length victory in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The win came a few hours after Dutrow won twice in Dubai — a $2 million race with Benny the Bull and a $1 million race with Diamond Stripes.
Dutrow, though, has the Kentucky Derby on his mind after Big Brown made it three romps in three career races. The imposing bay colt will show up at Churchill Downs in five weeks as one of the favorites — if not the top choice.
"I wouldn't trade horses with anyone,'' Dutrow said Sunday afternoon, his voice raspy after a Saturday full of celebrations. "I haven't seen one 3-year-old anywhere in the world that can beat Brown. ... and I've watched them all run.''
Dutrow's other big day came in the 2005 Breeders' Cup, when he won the BC Classic with eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam and the BC Sprint with Silver Train.
Now comes the possibility of a win with his first Derby starter.
"I'm very happy with where we are,'' Dutrow said, adding Big Brown came out of the race in fine shape. "He's healthy. He's fine.''
Pyro, the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby winner, remains No. 1 on this week's Run to the Roses' Top 10 list, but Big Brown zooms to No. 2 after being unranked. Big Brown is scheduled to remain at Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach, Fla., for his next workout, and then it's on to Kentucky.
War Pass, meanwhile, moves to No. 3. The front-running colt seems ready to re-establish himself as a top Derby contender following his last-place finish - and first loss - in the Tampa Bay Derby. He has been training sharply, according to trainer Nick Zito, and will headline the field for next Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, where likely challengers will be Court Vision, Tale of Ekati and Texas Wildcatter.
Zito is looking for a big effort three weeks after War Pass got off to a poor start and never got a chance to move into the lead as is his style.
"I still think he's my best horse,'' Zito said. "And I promise you, nobody will be in War Pass' way early. Whether he makes it or not, I don't know what the outcome will be. But I can tell you one thing - he'll be on the lead.''
ALSO ON THIS STORY |
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Also set for next Saturday is the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park, featuring unbeaten Denis of Cork.
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