Big Brown worked six furlongs over a good Aqueduct turf course in 1:14.64 on Oc. 7th. The move was in company with stablemate Salute the Count, a possible entrant in the newly formed Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

The dogs were up, about 12 feet out, and the Richard Dutrow runner completed his final two furlongs in :23.85 while galloping out seven panels in 1:29.26. The 2008 Kentucky Derby hero is expected to have two more works before heading to Santa Anita on Oct. 21st.

Curlin had his first activity over Santa Anita’s new Pro-Ride synthetic surface, getting four furlongs in a pedestrian :52.80 on Oct. 6th.

The Steve Asmussen trainee will work in company on Oct. 13th, and we should get a better gauge of his ability to handle synthetic ground next week.

Curlin’s stablemate Student Council, also gearing up for the Classic, breezed six furlongs in 1:15.60

In other Classic developments, Smooth Air is being pointed to the big race. The Hutcheson and Ohio Derby winner was last seen taking the Needles Stakes over the Calder grass, and note that trainer Bernie Stutts also nominated him to the Oak Tree Derby for grassy three-year-olds on the Breeders’ Cup undercard. He will head to SoCal on Oct. 18th. Below is a replay of the 2008 Ohio Derby, courtesty of YouTube.

Whitney and Mass Cap hero Commentator will not participate in the BC Classic, and the Nick Zito trainee is likely done for the year. He will remain in training to shoot for a third Whitney title in 2009.

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Past the Point (Indian Charlie-AP Indy) is a vastly improved Darley Stable 4yo, and his trainer Eoin Harty is already loaded for bear in the BC Classic with Goodwood winner Well Armed and Travers hero Colonel John, both owned by WinStar Farm.

Past the Point showed promise as a three-year-old with a solid show finish in the 2007 Super Derby. He then disappointed in a pair of Polytrack races and a flat mile turf event. He returned with a sharp allowance win at the Spa, and today’s rival True Resurgence came out of that heat to win an allowance of his own at Saratoga.

The Eoin Harty charge was thrown to the wolves in the Woodward, and he set a swift pace at 40-1 before getting run down in the late stages by reigning Horse of the Year Curlin. Wanderin Boy finished 3rd, and the aforementioned 1-3 finishers flattered the Woodward results by returning to finish 1-2 in the JC Gold Cup at Belmont Park last weekend.

Johnny V, who booted him home in that August 3rd allowance score, has the call today, and expect aggressive handling over a well-known speed conducive oval. Can he run another quality race away from the Spa? That’s the burning question.

Arson Squad was on his way to a productive career following a victory in the 2007 Strub over conventional dirt, but the SoCal tracks mandated synthetic footing, and he struggled in seven subsequent starts for Bruce Headley.

Richard Dutrow has him now, and he returns to preferred dirt footing. He might need some time to get his confidence back, and it would be nice to see him get his career back on track. Prado rode Past the Point last time, but he ends up on this interesting entrant.

Timber Reserve won the 2007 PA Derby, and he came back to that form with a sharp optional claiming tally at Saratoga last time. John Kimmel trainee chose this spot over the JC Gold Cup, and he projects a tracking trip under Kent D.

Da’ Tara shocked the world in the Belmont Stakes. He tanked in the Jim Dandy, than returned to set the pace and finished a respectable 5th in the Travers. Three-year-olds still have much to prove versus older, and he seemingly needs to set a controlled tempo for his best. Nick Zito has done some damage with early runners in graded races this year (Commentator, Coal Play, Da’ Tara, Wanderin Boy).

Zito also has late running sophomore Anak Nakal, the 2008 PA Derby hero and Belmont Stakes show finisher. The plodding type can rally for a minor award under Joe Bravo.

Actin Good won a graded event in the slop last year and exits an optional claiming tally versus four foes. Stalking type is a bit light on speed ratings.

PV Lightening exits a sharp score in the slop, but the Maryland bred seemingly needs restricted company to fire his best shot.

Below is a replay of the 2008 Woodward Stakes from Saratoga, courtesy of YouTube.

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As I stated in my preview blog, I thought that Big Brown would sit the first run stalking trip behind one or two other speedsters, but he was carving out legit fractions and had enough energy to hold off the the aforementioned Grade 2 winners.

Proudinsky loomed a serious threat turning for home and looked as if he would go by Big Brown in midstretch, but the classy winner dug in and refused to be passed.

Ridden as always by Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown completed the nine furlongs over a good course in 1:47.41. The Richard Dutrow Jr. and IEAH Stable runner now has his sights set on the synthetic BC Classic at Santa Anita.

Shakis rallied wide to garner the show over Silver Tree.

Below is a replay of the 2008 Monmouth Stakes, courtesy of YouTube.

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Big Brown is 6-7 lifetime, with his Belmont Stakes disaster his notable blemish. He began his career with a romping turf route wire job last September, then returned in March and rolled in an originally scheduled for the turf flat mile entry level race at the Gulf.

He proceeded to take the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness before his ill-fated Triple Crown attempt at Big Sandy. He was last seen grinding out a win over Zito speedster Coal Play in the Haskell (G1).

Now, Big Brown returns to the turf in his final BC Classic prep, and he has not looked brilliant since the spring. Richard Dutrow and company maintain that the son of Boundary is better on turf, but that remains to be seen.

The media hype horse faces older for the first time and meets quality foes as well, including recent Grade 2 Baruch repeater Shakis (7-2).

The Kiaran McLaughlin runner got back on the beam in latest Saratoga score, and he is now 3 for 4 in nine furlong grass races since arriving in the US last year. Late striding 8yo horse is Big Brown’s equal on speed ratings. Joe Bravo hops aboard, and he is 3-6 with this barn at Monmouth.

Proudinsky is worth a look at 4-1. Robert Frankel trainee was troubled, close-up 6th in same race Shakis exits, and he was the fav that day. He may have needed the outing, and he is a 2-time graded winner at this distance.

Silver Tree (6-1) has been part of the exacta in 24 of 39 grass races and exits a local graded turf tally. 8yo horse is cross entered at Philly Park, along with Ballonenostrikes (20-1) and Drum Major (8-1).

Hotstufanthensome (12-1) is the horse for course with 11 exacta finishes in 14 local grass starts.

Kiss The Kid (10-1) owns early/pressing speed and is graded stakes placed on turf and dirt.

Get Serious (15-1) has won two straight allowance/optional claiming races on the turf and looms a pace player, along with Fagetaboutit Sal (30-1).

Nightscape (30-1), eligible for an entry level spot, rounds out the field.

Shakis looks like the one to beat on paper, and Proudinsky might be the value play. Big Brown projects the first run trip, and we will see if he has enough to hold off the aforementioned proven turf warriors.

Below is a replay of the 2008 Bernard Baruch featuring Shakis and Proudinsky, courtesy of YouTube.

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Big Brown has been working steadily for his return to grass racing. He kicked off his career with a romping turf victory at the Spa.

Following his failed Triple Crown bid in the infamous Belmont Stakes debacle, he came back to wear down a stubborn Coal Play in a less than stellar renewal of the Haskell (G1).

Saturday’s turf race will be his final prep before heading to Santa Anita for the synthetic BC Classic, and I hope he wins for fun at Monmouth for Kent D/Richard Dutrow so the media darling gets overbet in his final career start in October.

Those expected to face Big Brown at Monmouth include multiple graded turf winner Shakis and Robert Frankel’s Proudinsky. The speedy Shake The Bank is possible, along with veteran campaigner Silver Tree.

The purse of the Monmouth Stakes will climb to $500k if Big Brown makes it to the starting gate.

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Arlington Park

Stream Cat easily ran down loose on the lead 2-time defending Arlington Hcp (G2) champ Cosmonaut on Saturday. The runner-up had no excuses setting a tepid pace in the compact local prep for the Arlington Million (G1).

Long winded type Communique had too much stamina for her rivals in the grassy 9.5f Modesty Hcp (G3) for fillies and mares. Leading rider Rene Douglas was up for Rusty Arnold, who also saddled the aforementioned Stream Cat.

Tizdejavu (Tiznow) cruised to his 3rd straight graded turf triumph in the American Derby (G2). The facile wire-to-wire winner rewarded his backers with a paltry $3.40.

Belmont Park

Kip Deville easily disposed of three overmatched rivals in the 24th running of the Poker Hcp (G3) at a flat mile on the Belmont grass course on Sunday. Cornelio Velasquez was the pilot in the facile wire job, and the final time was 1:32.94. Godolphin colorbearer Tam Lin stalked and pounced his way to a clear place finish. Richard Dutrow’s defending BC Mile winner is expected to run once more before trying to defend his BC crown, and that start will come in the Woodbine Mile on September 7th.

Calder Race Course

Greg Gilchrist’s NoCal shipper Indyanne ($3.20) dominated the Azalea Hcp (G3) for three-year-old fillies on Saturday. 6f in 1:10.82. Russell Baze pulled off the easy wire job on the fleet 4-4 miss.

Four weeks ago in the Unbridled Stakes, Golden Spikes got the better of Gentleman James, and it was deja vu all over again in the Carry Back (G2). Marty Wolfson’s winner overcame some traffic, while the gritty runner-up did all of the dirty work. 6f in 1:11.20.

Dream Rush was even money to rebound in the Princess Rooney (G1), but she faded late again as 8-1 tracker Mistical Plan turned back and easily got the job done under Corey Nakatani. The win netted the Doug O’Neill trainee a guaranteed spot in the BC F&M Sprint. 6f in 1:10.76.

Benny the Bull keeps on truckin’ for Richard Dutrow, this time annexing the Smile Sprint Hcp (G2). He has been a bit more tactical lately, but he closed from the back to post a two-length tally under Edgar Prado in this spot. 6f in 1:11.41 was the slowest of the four graded six furlong sprints on the day.

Delaware Park

Proud Spell rebounded from a troubled 3rd in the Mother Goose two weeks ago to post a determined 3/4 length tally in Saturday’s Delaware Oaks (G2). The cowboy (Larry Jones) and his gritty female performer figure to try the Alabama (G1) at the Spa on August 16th.

Hystericalady rolled in her last 9f start when allowed to dictate the pace, and in Sunday’s $1 million Del Cap (G2), she tracked a tepid pace set by eventual 20-1 place finisher Lemon Drop Mom. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee took over when asked and strolled to an effortless four-length tally under Garrett Gomez. She stopped the clock in 2:02.37 and returned $7.00 to win. Defending champ Unbridled Belle was a clear grinding 3rd, missing 2nd by 3/4s of a length. For the record, the winner is 10-20 lifetime and has surpassed the $2 million mark in earnings, but the Breeders’ Cup will be contested over synthetic footing, and she’s 0-4 in SoCal synthetic races.

Hollywood Park

Leading trainer John Sadler capped of the Hollywood Park meet in style, as his Warning Zone nabbed the Sunset Hcp (G2) on closing Sunday. 6-5 fav Cedar Mountain rallied from last to garner the place, a 1/2 length better than perennial purse nibbler Porfido. I do not think this was a strong race/group for the level.

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NY-bred Ice Cool Kitty is a 9-16 pro with a trio of local wins and a pair of extended sprint tallies. She has not been out since November ‘07 and it likely using this race as a springboard to state bred stakes races down the road. Her mate Looky Yonder has won her last three conventional dirt starts and is 2-2 at Big Sandy. She’s a three-time 7f winner, and Gomez is 2-2 with the versatile sort.

Wild Gams offers a hint of value at 5-1 on the line. I was on her in a graded event at Keeneland last fall, and she was necked in one of two starts at this distance. She showed improved tactical ability in the $250k My Juliet (six furlongs) at Philly Park last time, and she should be primed for another top effort 3rd race back.

Rite Moment has been part of the exacta in 9 straight starts. She won a similar graded event at this distance in April, and she was freshened after a place finish in the flat mile Shuvee (G2) here.

I selected Baroness Thatcher a few times last year, and the Bill Mott trainee typically runs well without winning. 2-18 miss can hit the board once again.

In the Grade 2 Tom Fool Handicap (race 8), Dutrow once again has a major player with Not For Money. The four-year-old exits a smashing course/distance optional claiming tally, but he got away with first quarter in 23 seconds, and that led to his inflated speed rating. Place finisher Bribon came back to score, but the rail-sitter is worth trying to topple at underlaid odds.

Lucky Island is 3-3 this year and 4-5 lifetime for Kiaran McLaughlin. He runs well fresh and owns fine positional speed. His last win occurred here, and he’s also 1-1 at 7f.

Tasteyville has fired in 10 of last 12, winning five. Handles and footing (fast, slop) and a variety of distances.

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A battery of tests did not produce a reason for his poor effort, and now Mr. Dutrow has decided to blame jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Mr. Dutrow is wondering why Kent D essentially pulled Big Brown up turning for home, and the trainer is also questioning his antics around the first turn.

Granted, Big Brown did have minor early troubles in the Belmont Stakes, but based on past performances, Kent D must have felt that he was sitting on a far superior animal, so when initial plans to seize the early lead failed to materialize, he worked his way to an outside stalking position. There was no response when Kent pulled the trigger on the backside.

Also, I wrote in my Belmont Stakes previews that the main quarter crack problem facing Big Brown was not the injury itself, rather the down-time he was facing because of his injury. Horses are high-strung animals with a need to burn off energy, and if they cannot do that in training sessions, they are frequently too aggressive in their actual races. Sure enough, Big Brown seemed rank and wanting to do too much in the early going, not something you want to see in a twelve furlong race.

Anyone associated with horse racing could tell that Big Brown was done on the backstetch…and probably way before that! For whatever reason, this was not the same horse that ran away with the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. If he were the same animal, he would have cantered past Da’ Tara, a horse he beat by 23-1/2 lengths in Florida.

Horses are not machines, and I understand Kent’s decision to ease Big Brown. Why persevere with a horse with nothing left in the tank?

Mr. Dutrow obviously cares less what other people think, and to blame his rider is par for this course with this guy. Thanks to Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown came back in one piece and will live to fight another day…get over it Rick!

Photo Credit: Newscom

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