Big Brown departs Pimlico, arrives at Belmont

Big Brown leaves Pimlico for his rendezvous with history at Belmont (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

Nearly 40 hours after BIG BROWN (Boundary) delivered a memorable 5 1/4-length

victory in Saturday's 133rd running of the Preakness S. (G1), the dual classic winner

left the Pimlico stakes barn and headed to New York for his date with destiny in

the Belmont S. (G1) on June 7 at Belmont Park. The Richard Dutrow-trained colt

will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years in the 1

1/2-mile Belmont.

"I am feeling pretty confident about things," Dutrow said. "I can

see that he is sharp. Yesterday he was bouncing and today the same thing. He is

doing good and that makes everything so much easier."

Big Brown, who has won all of his five career races by a combined 39 lengths,

is only the fourth horse to emerge from the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness

undefeated, joining Majestic Prince (1969), Seattle Slew (1977) and Smarty Jones

(2004). Seattle Slew is the only horse in history to emerge undefeated from the

Belmont and garner a Triple Crown sweep.

Big Brown arrives at Belmont (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

Thirty-one other horses have left Pimlico with a chance at the Triple Crown,

including six since 1997, with only 11 accomplishing what is described as the most

elusive prize in sports. Dutrow is confident his star can join elite company.

"Everyone can see he is a special kind of horse," Dutrow said. "As

long as we can keep him well within himself, we'll have a chance. Everybody is

very excited about him and how can you not be. It looks like he has a chance at

being one of the best ever. If we get beat in the Belmont we are just going to

be amongst a whole lot of horses that almost got there so we need to win this

race. He looks like by far that he is the best horse going into the race."

Dutrow said he expected he would not give Big Brown much more than one

maintenance breeze prior to the Belmont.

After walking the shedrow at 8 a.m. (EDT), the colt boarded the Brook Ledge van

without incident and exited the Pimlico backstretch at 10 a.m. headed for the

Big Apple.

Big Brown is followed by a media horde (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

Big Brown arrived safely at Belmont Park Monday afternoon, taking in the

throng of reports, photographers and well-wishers with the confident nonchalance

he displayed in winning the first two jewels of the Triple Crown.

Once he arrived at Barn 2, Big Brown made himself at home. He munched some

hay, awaited for his red, rubber ball to be hung outside of his stall and spent

a good part of his time stretching his neck as far as he could to his right to

touch noses with a cute chestnut filly named Moonlight Alice.

"He's already trying to make friends, but he wants her to know she has to win

at least one Grade 1 race if she is going to have any shot with him," said Mike

Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, who before the Preakness, announced that

Big Brown would stand at Robert Clay's Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky

when his racing career is over.

"Seriously, the thing about him that stands out to me the most is his class,"

Iavarone said. "He is the most intelligent horse I have ever seen. He loves

people, loves all this attention and he loves to run."

Also among those welcoming Big Brown to Belmont Park was his jockey, Hall of

Fame rider Kent Desormeaux.