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Big Brown installed as 1-2 choice over six Haskell rivals
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Big Brown, seen here winning the Florida Derby, will try to return to his winning ways in the Haskell
(Adam Coglianese/NYRA Photographer) |
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) hero BIG BROWN (Boundary) could not
complete the sweep of the Triple Crown in the Belmont S. (G1), but the
once-beaten colt will have the opportunity to regain his winning ways in
Sunday's $1 million Haskell S. (G1) at Monmouth Park. The brilliant bay drew
post 4 for the 1 1/8-mile test at the Oceanside, New Jersey, oval, and he's listed as the
overwhelming 1-2 choice on the morning line in the seven-horse field. Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.
has named Kent Desormeaux to ride Big Brown again in the
Haskell.
Big Brown clicked off four straight wins as a three-year-old, and came into the
Belmont with a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
However, he was rank early while under restraint and had trouble getting to the
outside from his rail post. Desormeaux pulled the colt up on the far turn, and there is still no
definitive answer as to what went wrong.
Michael Iavarone, head of the IEAH Stables syndicate that owns Big Brown in
partnership with Paul Pompa Jr., said he was looking forward to the Haskell
because he feels fans will see the real Big Brown.
"We're eagerly anticipating this race," Iavarone said. "If it's possible,
he's training better than he did before he won the Kentucky Derby."
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Trainer Nick Zito, who saddled Da' Tara (Tiznow) to a Belmont upset, has two
of the Haskell entrants in COOL COAL MAN and COAL PLAY, sons of Mineshaft who
will race as separate betting interests. Cool Coal Man captured the Fountain of
Youth S. (G2) earlier this season and exits a win in the Spend a Buck S. at
Monmouth. He's listed as the 4-1 second choice with Eddie Castro. Stakes-placed
Coal Play captured an allowance by 9 1/4 lengths over the track two starts back,
but will enter the Haskell off a disappointing third as the odds-on favorite in
an allowance/optional claiming event. Joe Bravo will ride the early 8-1 shot.
MAGICAL FOREST (Forest Camp), an upset winner of the Barbaro S. (G3) at
Delaware Park in his latest, will break from the rail and is listed at 10-1. The
rest of the field consists of the 6-1 ATONED (Repent), a narrow second in the
Long Branch S. and Spend a Buck S. in his most recent outings; NISTLE'S CRUNCH
(Van Nistelrooy), who is listed at 15-1 and will switch back to the main track
after placing in the Colonial Turf Cup (G3) and Crown Royal American Turf (G3)
in his last two outings; and 30-1 outsider ALAAZO (A.P. Indy).
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