Belmont: failed delivery

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - And now you know why braggarts are always punished.

Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow guaranteed a Belmont Stakes victory on Saturday. I wonder if he’s writing checks to those wagering $5.9 million trackside alone for the colt to win? Anything can happen in racing even more so than other sports. Once again, an unworthy colt was denied becoming the first Triple Crown champion in 30 years.

“I had no horse,” jockey Kent Desormeaux said.

You could spot it early when Big Brown was shaking his head entering the first turn; the colt’s way of saying something was wrong. Maybe the recent hoof problem that altered his training was more of a problem than believed. Perhaps not getting his monthly steroid injection was a factor. Even the 96-degree heat could have washed him out.

“I’ve got no idea,” Dutrow said. “I don’t see a problem and I’m looking for one.”

Big Brown was done with a half mile remaining when not responding to Desormeaux, who was smart to pull up the horse. Sorry to all you show bettors looking for a dime return on a $2 investment, but something was wrong and a Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes champion shouldn’t be risked. The loss already devalued Big Brown $20 million as a stallion so why jeopardize an injury? Don’t look for Big Brown to race again because another loss would devalue him $10 million more.

Da’ Tara lost the Florida Derby by 23 lengths to Big Brown. The only reason anyone bet on the colt in the Belmont was trainer Nick Zito, who derailed Smarty Jones’ 2004 Triple Crown bid with long shot Birdstone in the Belmont. Zito is a master of picking his spots and Big Brown seemed vulnerable.

“There are lot of upsets in this game,” Zito said. “That’s the game. I’m sure we’ll see another Triple Crown.”

Maybe, but racing has certainly seen weird ways by the last 11 failures to miss the sweep. There have been injuries, bad starts and photo finish losses among the strange losses and now Big Brown became the first crown seeker to finish last. Big Brown wouldn’t have been among the top five even if Desormeaux hadn’t pulled up the colt. He had nothing when asked.

“Something’s wrong so I took care of him,” Desormeaux said.

Fair enough. Racing needs a Triple Crown champion, but even more it doesn’t need another tragedy following Eight Belles’ death after finishing second in the Derby. This just wasn’t the right horse for gaining immortality.

Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.

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