HORSE RACING NEWS & RESULTS

Big Brown finishes last in Belmont

ELMONT, New York (Ticker) -- Triple the heartbreak.

Big Brown was eased up at the top of the stretch as he failed in
his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years on 
Saturday in the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Overshadowed in Big Brown's heartache was 38-1 longshot Da'Tara 
going wire-to-wire in reaching the winner's circle.

In what certainly was not the "foregone conclusion" that trainer
Rick Dutrow Jr. predicted, Big Brown jogged home to a last-place
finish under the guidance of jockey Kent Desormeaux.  Dutrow 
showed his bold confidence despite Big Brown racing with a 
slight quarter crack in his left front hoof.

"He was keen to go on early.  He broke so hard.  I got him out 
early and just cantered down the backside," Desormeaux said.  "A
couple of times, he thought it was time to go and jumped into 
the bridle a couple of times.  But I had no horse, and when I 
realized something was wrong, I knew he wouldn't be fifth.  He's
the best horse I've ever been on, so I took care of him."

Larry Bramlage, the track's on-call veterinarian, said early 
indications showed the horse was not injured.

"He looked fine during the race," Bramlage said.  "All I saw was
when Desormeaux slowed him down.  The veterinarian inspection 
team did not find anything wrong with him and he was not lame."

Watching Big Brown at a test barn after the race, Dutrow was 
looking for answers as to what happened.

"The horse is not injured.  We will scope the horse," he said.  
"I was looking for a problem, and so far, I don't see a problem.
I am looking for something to be wrong, and I don't see it.  
When they turned for home, I knew something wasn't right.

"If we feel he is 100 percent, we will get him back in training 
and move on.  This is a very disappointing race, and right now, 
it looks like he will have a good life even if he never races 
again.  When Kent started pulling him up, I thought something 
was wrong.  He's in good shape and we're very proud of him.  
Something has got to be wrong when he puts in a race like this. 
I just don't know what happened."

Dominant in winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness 
Stakes, Big Brown was attempting to become the first Triple 
Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and 12th overall.  Instead, 
he became the 11th horse since Affirmed reached racing 
immortality to win the first two jewels, only to fall short in 
the grueling 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

Big Brown did make ominous history, becoming the first of 19 
horses bidding to win the Triple Crown to finish last.

"The champ, Big Brown, didn't run his race today," winning 
trainer Nick Zito said. "He wasn't himself. Da'Tara was 
himself."

It marked the second time Zito dashed the dreams of a Triple 
Crown hopeful.  He also saddled Birdstone, who edged Smarty 
Jones in 2004.

Da'Tara was a newcomer on the Triple Crown circuit after 
skipping both the Derby and Preakness.  He came in with little 
hope, finishing 23 1/2 lengths behind Big Brown in the Florida 
Derby in March.

While Da'Tara crashed the Triple Crown party, many will start 
questioning if Big Brown, who won his first five career starts 
by a combined 39 lengths, even should have been running.

After developing the quarter crack, Big Brown missed some 
training time before returning to the track with an impressive 
workout Tuesday.  Dutrow and hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, who 
applied a patch to Big Brown's injury Friday, insisted the bay 
colt was healthy entering the grueling 1 1/2-mile Belmont dubbed
the "Test of the Champion."

Under the guidance of Desormeaux, Big Brown left from the rail 
and appeared in fine shape, settling in third behind Da'Tara and
Tale of Ekati.

Big Brown remained third and appeared poised to make a run on 
the outside.  However, as the field began to come around the 
final turn, Desormeaux got no response from the overwhelming 
favorite before deciding to ease the horse up to avoid a 
potential injury.

"I thought in this horse's best interest, lets just get him back
to the barn and recharge his batteries," Desormeaux said.

It was the second time Desormeaux had his Triple Crown dreams 
dashed.  In 1998, the Hall of Famer was aboard Real Quiet, who 
opened a four-length lead in the stretch before losing by a nose
to Victory Gallop.

And with all eyes focused on Big Brown, Da'Tara - the longest 
shot on the board - was pulling away to a convincing four-length
victory under jockey Alan Garcia.

Da'Tara paid a healthy $79, $28 and $14.80, winning with a time 
of 2:29.65.

Denis of Cork, third in the Derby, was second for trainer David 
Carroll with Robby Albarado in the irons.  The colt paid $5.40 
and $4.10.

Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo finished in a dead heat for third. 
Anak Nakal paid $7.60 and Ready's Echo returned $6.20.

Earlier Saturday, Casino Drive - considered the main threat to 
Big Brown - was scratched from the race with a bruised left hind
hoof.

The complete order of finish was Da'Tara, Denis of Cork, Anak 
Nakal, Ready's Echo, Macho Again, Tale of Ekati, Guadalcanal, 
Icabad Crane and Big Brown.