Triumph, tragedy at Derby
Big Brown wins in a rush; Eight Belles is euthanized
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For now, there can be no more doubters.
Bad post? Not a problem - in fact, it might have helped.
Too lightly raced? That just made him stronger, hungrier, and friskier.
Big Brown, the "super horse," turned in a super performance yesterday at the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby and thoroughbred racing has a budding superstar. The big colt demolished a 20-horse field, winning by 4 3/4 lengths in a race that was similar to his three previous victories - total domination.
The victory was tinged with tragedy when Eight Belles, who was trying to become the fourth filly to win the Derby, broke down after finishing second, breaking both front ankles, which necessitated her being euthanized.
Denis of Cork finished third with a major surge to nip Tale of Ekati.
Big Brown paid $6.80, 5.80, and $4.80.
For Big Brown, Step 1 in his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years is complete.
"When he turned for home, I knew the game was over," said trainer Rick Dutrow.
Despite a résumé that included three wins in his three previous races by a total of 29 lengths, Big Brown had his doubters entering the race. No Derby winner since Regret in 1915 had won with only three prep races.
And when the draw for post position was held Wednesday, more skeptics spoke up when Dutrow got the 20 post, pointing out that only one Derby winner had ever won from post 20, and that was in 1929.
None of it mattered to Dutrow, who maintained he had the best horse, sparking a debate about whether Big Brown (a 5-2 favorite at post time) was better than Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John or Pyro, who had more experience.
"If [Big Brown] is as talented as people say he is, I don't see it being a problem for him," said Colonel John's trainer, Eoin Harty, before the race. "If he's the second coming of Secretariat, he's going to blitz us all anyway."
And that's basically what happened as Big Brown broke from the gate and allowed the other speed horses - Bob Black Jack and Cowboy Cal - to set the early pace, which was hardly sizzling with a quarter time of 23.30 seconds and a half-mile time of 47.40.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux let Big Brown dictate his own pace, sliding him slowly toward the rail in sixth place, waiting for an opportunity.
With a slow pace and closers Pyro and Cowboy Cal caught in traffic in the middle of the pack, Big Brown waited for an opening.
"Talent-wise he's the best horse I've ever ridden," said Desormeaux, who road Derby winners Real Quiet in 1998 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. "It was a beautiful, uneventful trip. No distractions, no alterations on the course, just slide over. And he did it so within himself. He truly was a gallop to the quarter pole."
Big Brown surged to the lead at the mile mark, easing past Recapturetheglory, and then pulling away down the stretch. With the slow pace, Big Brown had plenty of speed left and Desormeaux made his move.
Desormeaux was asked how far Big Brown could go in his Triple Crown journey.
"Well, you saw it," he said. "I'll let him show you on the racetrack."
Dutrow, a Runyonesque character with a past marked by partying and suspensions, says the next step is up to Big Brown.
"I've got to say that his next race is out of my hands," said Dutrow, who noted he has yet to decide when he will ship Big Brown to Pimlico for the Preakness May 17. "It's coming up in two weeks. I'm not going to have a chance to train him. I'm just going to kind of play around with him.
"I know he looks like the best horse of his crop, but he still has to come up there the right way again. There's going to be some new horses. I don't think I'm going to feel as confident, because I love training a horse for a race."
That is in the future. For now, Dutrow can bask in the knowledge that Big Brown delivered the package that he had been asked to.
Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.
