As the horses loaded the starting gate on the first Saturday of May, there was little doubt as to the substantial ability of the undefeated Big Brown. What was not entirely known at the time is just how superior he was to the rest of this 3-year-old crop.

Now, as the horses load into the starting gate on this first Saturday of June, Big Brown, having won the first two legs of the Triple Crown by a combined 10 lengths, has made this perfectly – almost embarrassingly — clear.

Yet despite being a prohibitive 2-5 morning line favorite to win the Belmont Stakes (more…)

There is little doubt that Kent Desormeaux will attempt to get Big Brown outside of horses as quickly as possible in the Belmont Stakes — exactly where the fascinating aspect of the long run to the first turn unfolds.

Only three horses in the field of 10 possess any early gas at all — Big Brown, logical pace-setter Da’ Tara, and Casino Drive. In an attempt to pin Big Brown in, will Edgar Prado stay glued to Big Brown once Da’ Tara clears, or will Kent make the first move in an attempt to get away from Casino Drive?

Fascinating stuff. Either way, given the long run and the way horses tend to hold their lanes into the turn, I see little reason Kent will be unable to get Big Brown off the fence early with little consequence — especially with the small pack that should be forwardly placed.