Big Brown stretches his legs on Preakness morning

Big Brown rested in his stall after his work Saturday morning (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

As trainer Richard Dutrow had been intimating all week, undefeated Kentucky

Derby (G1) conqueror BIG BROWN (Boundary) turned in an easy quarter-mile move in

:25 4/5 at Pimlico Saturday morning, just hours in advance of his bid in the

Preakness S. (G1). The track, which had been muddy on Friday, was rated fast

when Big Brown stretched his legs.

A perfect four-for-four so far, Big Brown has utterly dominated his

competition every time, including a 4 3/4-length romp beneath the Twin Spires.

The handsome bay was installed as the 1-2 morning-line favorite for the

Preakness, and his fans have been hammering him since wagering opened on Friday.

As of early Saturday afternoon, Big Brown's odds have shortened to a prohibitive

1-9.

If Big Brown fulfills expectations, he will head to the June 7 Belmont S.

(G1) in hopes of becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner, and the first since

Affirmed in 1978. Moreover, he would rank as only the second horse to go through

the Triple Crown unbeaten, following Seattle Slew in 1977.