Big Brown set to work on Tuesday

Big Brown will try to give Kent Desormeaux another reason to salute at Monmouth (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo)

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner BIG BROWN  (Boundary)

is expected to breeze over the Aqueduct turf on Tuesday, putting the finishing

touches on his preparation for the inaugural Monmouth S. on Saturday. Crafted

explicitly for Big Brown, the grassy 1 1/8-mile test will serve as his launching

pad to the October 25 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

"I'm looking to give him his final breeze on Tuesday," trainer Richard Dutrow

said. "I have permission to work him on the turf, and that's what I'd like to

do."

Most recently successful in the August 3 Haskell Invitational (G1), Big Brown

has not raced on turf since his scintillating 11 1/4 debut win at Saratoga as a

juvenile, but he has been working on the turf at his Aqueduct base of late. He

blew out three grassy furlongs in :38 3/5 prior to the Haskell, and in his last

two works, the bay exercised five panels in 1:04 3/5 on August 28, and drilled

six furlongs in 1:15 3/5 last Wednesday.

Big Brown has won six of seven career starts while amassing $3,314,500 in

earnings. His lone blemish came in the Belmont S. (G1), when he was eased.

With Big Brown in the line-up, the Monmouth purse spikes to $500,000. Should

the Derby winner not make the gate, the race will be worth $200,000.

"I know he'll be ready come game day," Dutrow said.