Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Price of gas up nearly 12 cents in last 3 weeks

Big Brown making case as Derby favorite

Unbeaten colt makes big impression with five-length Florida Derby win

Image: Big BrownAP
Big Brown roared to a five-length victory in The Grade I Florida Derby on Saturday.

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.''

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

The Santa Anita Derby next Saturday features the top 3-year-olds on the West Coast - No. 4 Colonel John, No. 8 El Gato Malo and No. 9 Georgie Boy.

Also set for next Saturday is the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park, featuring unbeaten Denis of Cork.


advertisement
More news
Image: John Velazquez rides Animal Kingdom to victory during the 137th Kentucky Derby
AP
'All Others' a strong favorite?

The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.

Image: 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships - Day 2
Getty Images
Breeders' Cup returns to NBC

It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.

INTERACTIVE
AFFIRMED ALYDAR CAUTHEN VALASQUEZ
Timeline: The Kentucky Derby
The defining moments in more than a century of the Run for the Roses.
Slideshow
Image: Allison Baver
  Derby celebs
Plenty of stars from the entertainment and sports world attend the 136th Kentucky Derby.

more photos

INTERACTIVE
SECRETARIAT TURCOTTE
Triple Crown winners
The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year.