Trainer Rick Dutrow strolled into Louisville two weeks ago eager to prove to the world just how good Big Brown was.

Breaking from post 20 – a stall no horse had won the Derby from in 79 years — and charting a wide journey throughout, his authoritative victory accomplished just that.

Now, Dutrow arrives in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes simply hoping to pass this second jewel of the Triple Crown with a chance to make history on the first Saturday in June still in tact.

It’s not that Dutrow lacks confidence in his colt’s chances, although the bravado has certainly been toned down from the days preceding the Derby, and five of the last six odds-on Preakness favorites have fallen.

Big Brown entered the Run for the Roses (more…)

On paper, Big Brown can regress significantly and still dominate Preakness 133 — and it doesn’t take reviewing a racing form for more than 2 minutes to figure that out.

On the other hand, identifying those closest to the big favorite — or even “slay the dragon” as track announcer Vic Stauffer brilliantly called in last week’s turf stake at Hollywood Park — takes a bit more consideration. (more…)