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Report: Big Brown's trainer, jockey make peace

Dutrow says he, Desormeaux are 'back on target' after Belmont flop

Slide show
Exercise rider Michelle Nevin and a groom walk Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the paddock before the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York
  No crown for Big Brown
Big Brown fails to capture Triple Crown as long shot Da' Tara goes on to win the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes

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NBCSports.com news services
updated 1:32 a.m. ET June 12, 2008

Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and jockey Kent Desormeaux reportedly are back on the same page after meeting Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday, Dutrow publicly questioned Desormeaux's handling of the horse in the Belmont Stakes.

According to ESPN, however, Dutrow told Edwards that he and Desormeaux are “back on target,” adding “I just feel better because he came by to talk about [the Belmont ride].”

Big Brown, an huge favorite to win the Belmont and become horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, was pulled up by Desormeaux with a quarter mile to go and horse far behind the pack. Da' Tara, a 38-1 long shot, was the surprise wire-to-wire winner.

"I'm sure he didn't have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way [Desormeaux] was switching him all over the damn track," Dutrow told reporters Monday. "I don't know what he was doing."

Desormeaux said Monday that his plan was to go to the lead, but that Big Brown slipped coming out of the gate and that he was pinched back a length. He said that he pulled Big Brown up because he wasn't going to finish anywhere but last.

Dutrow said that unless Big Brown shows signs of a physical problem, the colt will enter the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga and then the Breeders' Cup Classic in October.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year.
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  140th Belmont Stakes
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Big Brown with jockey Kent Desormeaux pu
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Belmont Stakes
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Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux talks about the last-place finish, and Da' Tara's jockey Alan Garcia and trainer Nick Zito talk about their upset win.
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