Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

Big Brown has won all three of his starts by a combined 29 lengths.

Big Brown returned to training in February, and after just three easy breezes in a 12-day period, Dutrow deemed him ready to run in a first-level allowance race going one mile at Gulfstream. Originally scheduled for the turf, rain forced the race to be moved to the main track, and Big Brown, meeting just four rivals, galloped to a 12 3/4-length victory.

"I was the under the impression he was ready to be entered in a basic one-other-than allowance race and that talent would get him to the wire first," Dutrow said.

After first thinking of the Blue Grass, Dutrow and IEAH reversed course. After, as Dutrow puts it, "a night of thinking and drinking," the decision was made to run in the Florida Derby.

Despite being saddled with post 12 and running an opening half-mile in 45.83 seconds, Big Brown rolled to a five-length victory in the Florida Derby, establishing himself as an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He was the first horse to win from either post 11 or 12 going 1 1/8 miles on Gulfstream's main track since it was reconfigured in 2005.

As pleased as he was with the Florida Derby, Dutrow seems even happier with the way Big Brown has come out of it both physically and mentally. Big Brown's front feet, on which he now wears glue-on shoes, are no longer a problem. And Dutrow couldn't be happier with Big Brown's training.

"Since he has run, he has been taking control of his training," Dutrow said. "When he sees a horse galloping in front of him, he wants that target. It's not like he's being unmanageable, but his mind is going in the right direction."

Dutrow, who can still be unmanageable at times himself, believes he, too, is going in the right direction.

"I got all these cobwebs out of me now, and it's showing," he said. "I've done some good things around horses and its going to continue."

More news

NBC Sports

First Triple Crown in 34 years?

  HRTV's Laffit Pincay and Joel Siegel talk about the chances for "I'll Have Another" to in the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Mike Stewart / AP

Chasing the Crown

  Slideshow: I'll Have Another one win away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

Headlines

• Label

First Triple Crown in 34 years?

Chasing the Crown

TCI: Preakness recap and Belmont preview

Trainer O'Neill suspended by Calif. racing board

I'll Have Another posts 'fantastic' gallop

Union Rags breezes at Fair Hill for Belmont

Judge allows suspended jockey back in saddle

Bryant and Gasol's horse to run at Hollywood Park

Romans hopes Dullahan spoils Triple Crown bid

Analysis: I'll Have Another has a decent shot

It almost didn't happen for homesick Gutierrez

Bettor wins $71K-plus with Pick 9 at Arlington