Big Brown takes step closer to American Triple Crown

PREAKNESS STAKES: KENTUCKY DERBY hero Big Brown is long odds-on to complete the American Triple Crown after another awesome display in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Maryland on Saturday night.

Big Brown improved his record to five wins from five starts and joined Majestic Prince (1969), Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (1977) and Smarty Jones (2004) as unbeaten Derby winners who also won the Preakness.

Unlike the Derby where he had plenty of ground to cover when he became the first horse in 69 years to win from stall 20, Big Brown started in the middle of the pack from the seventh gate in the 12-horse Preakness field.

The imposing bay colt broke well under the guidance of Kent Desormeaux and was third at the half-mile mark and positioned perfectly on the turn for home.

Desormeaux then took Big Brown to the outside, where his mount - whose name is a tribute to the United Parcel Service - accelerated away in stunning fashion, leaving the rest of the field toiling in his wake.

Dutrow said: "I know we have a horse left. I'm going to be under the impression that he's going to be tough to beat in the Belmont.

"I don't think I'm afraid of anything. I don't think that anything worries me as long as this horse comes out of this race good."

The win means Desormeaux will again head to the race dubbed the "Test of the Champion" with a chance to win the Triple Crown.

In 1998, he was aboard Real Quiet, who won the Derby and Preakness before being edged by a nose by Victory Gallop in the Belmont.

He said: "It was just the easiest win ever. I looked between my legs, under my arms, they were eight back. I just stopped riding, reeled him in and just made sure he didn't pull up.

"He just kept kicking his legs up and striding for the wire. It was almost like the Kentucky Derby. He just set sail."

Macho Again filled the runner-up spot, five and three-quarters of a length in front of third-placed Icabad Crane.

Big Brown will now head for the Belmont Stakes on June 7th in a bid to become the first winner of all three Classics since Affirmed in 1978.

"He just keeps on getting better. He just keeps showing everyone he's special," said the trainer.

"Going down the backside and Kent had him three wide on the backside, I knew it was going to be over. He didn't get out on his belly. He should have enough left (for the Belmont). I'm just going to breeze him one time (before the Belmont)."

Desormeaux added: "I asked him for a stride at the corner and it was almost deja vu to the Kentucky. He should be fine (for the mile and a half in the Belmont)."

Big Brown, who is due to stand at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky when his racing career is over, is named in tribute to the United Parcel Service.

"It's just mind-boggling," said co-owner Michael Iavarone, who once worked on Wall Street. "It's the greatest experience I've ever had."

The Belmont Stakes may be the undefeated colt's biggest challenge as he faces Casino Drive, a colt from Japan who won the Peter Pan Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths at Belmont last week in his second racecourse start.