Big Brown, who is headed for the 2008 Preakness Stakes, made Kentucky Derby history as he became the first horse since the filly Regret in 1915 to win off just 3 career starts and the second to win from post position number 20. The joyous event, however, was marred because of the tragedy which occured when runner-up Eight Belles broke down after crossing the finish line and had to be euthanized on the track.

Eight Belles jockey in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Gabriel Saez, said Monday he was unaware that anything was wrong with Eight Belles prior to her going down in the Run for the Roses.

“I remain heartbroken over Eight Belles, and I want to let her many fans know that she never gave me the slightest indication before or during the race that there was anything bothering her,” jockey Gabriel Saez said in a statement Monday.

Big Brown remained unbeaten as he pulled away to a 5-length victory in the $2,211,800 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

The lone filly in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles finished second but collapsed with broken front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track.

The breakdown brought back memories of the 2006 Preakness Stakes, when Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right rear leg yards into the start. Barbaro was euthanized months later after developing laminitis.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown covered the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.82 and paid $6.80, $5 and $4.80. Eight Belles, under jockey Gabriel Saez, returned $10.60 and $6.40. Denis of Cork with jockey Calvin Borel aboard was 3 1/2 lengths behind and paid $11.60 to show.

Kentucky Derby payouts: $2 exacta (20-5) will pay $141.60 while $2 trifecta (20-5-16) will pay $3,445.60.

By GREG MELKOV

Hours of research on the 134th Kentucky Derby failed to single out a horse that I feel comfortable betting to win. This is the first time in years that I must throw a dart at the bullseye on the wagering board.

However, I have come up with several 3-year-olds I believe have the best chance to hit the board. Here are the thoroughbreds I’ll be using in exactas, trifectas and a Pick 3.

If any Kentucky Derby contender has a big shot to win it all, it’s Colonel John. The son of Tiznow, who won the first of his two Breeders’ Cup Classics in 2000 at Churchill Downs, captured both preps at 1 1/8 miles. In six career starts, he never was more than three lengths behind in the stretch and won four times and was runner-up twice.

Granted this will be his first start on the dirt, but he took to the main track, firing a bullet 57 4/5 for five furlongs – the best of 62 works on Sunday. The last two winners of the Kentucky Derby posted bullet works: Street Sense last year and Barbaro in ‘06.

By GREG MELIKOV

The 134th Kentucky Derby is difficult to handicap for several reasons ranging from speed figures to varying track surfaces.

For instance, a dozen Kentucky Derby contenders won 14 key preps from February through April. The only two-time winners, Pyro and Colonel John, haven’t posted a triple-digit figure this year.

Pyro ran a dismal 10th in the Blue Grass on Keeneland’s Polytrack. The son of Pulpit and six other colts finished fifth or worse in their final prep. The last horse to triumph at Churchill Downs after running that poorly or worse in the final prep was Iron Liege, fifth in ‘57.

Colonel John is yet to run on the dirt. Nearly half of the prospective field had one or more preps on synthetic surfaces.

So what’s a handicapper to do?

The Barclay Tagg-trained duo of Big Truck and Tale of Ekati were introduced to the Churchill Downs racetrack, home of the Kentucky Derby, Sunday morning during their respective 1 1/2-mile gallops under exercise rider Kristen Troxell.

“They both went really good. The nice cool weather has moved them up, and I think they like the change in surfaces,” said horse trainer Barclay Tagg, whose pair of 2008 Kentucky Derby entries arrived by van from Keeneland Saturday afternoon.

Eric Fein’s Big Truck, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, is scheduled to work out on Monday, while Charles Fipke’s Tale of Ekati, who will have Eibar Coa aboard in the Kentucky Derby, is slated to work on Tuesday.

Moments after watching his 3-year-old colt Macho Again surge to victory in the $100,000 Derby Trial (gr. III) on Saturday at Churchill Downs, horse trainer Dallas Stewart turned to a track official and asked “can we get him in the Derby?”

Horse trainer Dallas Stewart was kidding, but Macho Again’s performance should erase any doubts about his ability.

Macho Again paid $14.20, $5.60 and $3.80 after covering the 7 1-2 furlongs in 1:28.45. Jockey Julien Leparoux, who guided Macho Again to victory in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds in February.

Kodiak Kowboy, ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie and trained by Steve Asmussen, paid $4.00 and $3.00.

Fujita, with Calvin Borel up, led briefly in the stretch before fading to third and paid $5.00 to show.

IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa Jr.’s unbeaten Big Brown, the dominating winner of last week’s Florida Derby (gr. I) and one of the leading Kentucky Derby horses, took on the look of the ultimate favorite for the $2 million-guaranteed 2008 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) when he finished as a solid fan’s choice in the third and final pool of Churchill Downs‘ Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

The three-year-old son of Boundary, perfect in three career starts, closed at odds of 3-1 when the four-day pool concluded on Sunday, April 6 at 6 p.m. (EDT).

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s star was a clear choice over Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, the winner of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and the 5-1 second choice in Pool 3.

Big Brown was not included among the individual betting interests in the first two pools of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The only Kentucky Derby winner to be omitted from the first two Kentucky Derby Future pools before being added to the roster of wagering interests in the year’s final pool was Smarty Jones in 2004.