As the racing writer for the Lexington Herald- Leader, I have won three Eclipse Awards in thoroughbred racing, three Hervey Awards in harness racing, and I have had a lifetime of working with horses, on the track and in the show ring. But most of all, I simply enjoy horses. The opportunity to write about them has been a true gift.
Alicia Wincze is a general assignment sportswriter, covering everything from the Kentucky Derby to girls' soccer. She started riding at age 8 and was a four-year member of the Pace University equestrian team.
Big Brown at 1-2 in Preakness
Posted by Maryjean Wall on May 14, 2008
BALTIMORE — Big Brown drew smack in the middle of 13 contesting the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, quite unlike the far-outside post he had when winning the Kentucky Derby.
That’s no problem for Big Brown, according to trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who said Wednesday that the son of Boundary can win from anywhere.
Dutrow said the same before the Derby May 3 and Brown delivered from the No. 20 post position, a spot from which only one other Derby winner had come: Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.
Big Brown’s Derby victory by 4-3/4 lengths was so convincing that it seemed mildly surprising that 12 others will challenge him in the Preakness, the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
Only one Preakness hopeful, Gayego, has returned from the Derby to tackle Big Brown again. The other 11 did not race in the Derby, among them Kentucky Bear, who finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Kentucky Bear’s trainer, Reade Baker, expressed confidence in his colt while saying on ESPN Wednesday that Big Brown “beat all those horses at Churchill Downs but he didn’t beat us.”
This largely may be what the “new shooters” are hoping for in the Preakness: that Big Brown might be regressing from that huge effort nearly two weeks ago, while the new competitors are progressing.
It’s a long shot. That’s why the Preakness oddsmaker, Frank Carulli, made Big Brown the odds-on favorite at 1-2.
Second choice is Gayego at 8-1 and third choice is Behindatthebar at 10-1. Not another in the field is less than 15-1. (Photo by Maryjean Wall/staff)
