Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Big Brown Redeems Himself & Won The 2008 Haskell Invitational At Monmouth Park
Posted on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown displayed championship form at Monmouth Park on Sunday as he dug down deep to catch a stubborn Coal Play in the final furlong to win the $1-million Haskell Invitational (G1) by nearly two lengths.
The 1-5 Big Brown was forced to call on all his reserves to gain his fourth Grade 1 victory of the year as jockey Kent Desormeaux kept him in a drive from the quarter-pole to the wire.
After his puzzling race in the Belmont Stakes, when he was pulled up and did not finish, his Haskell performance delighted trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and owners IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin, Andrew Cohen and Pegasus Holdings Group.
Big Brown, who chased Coal Play all around the oval, asserted himself the final furlong while drifting wide and crossed the wire a length and three-quarters in front of his rival. Cool Coal Man, like Coal Play trained by Nick Zito, finished third, four and a quarter lengths farther back.
Alaazo, longest shot on the board at 33-1, finished fourth in Monmouth Park’s Haskell Invitational followed by Nistle’s Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest.
Big Brown finished 9 furlongs in 1:48 1/5 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the overwhelming choice. Coal Play, off at 20-1, completed the $25.20 exacta and paid $8 to place and $4.20 to show. Cool Coal Man, the 6-1 second choice, returned $2.80 to show.
Coal Play broke from the gate like a shot under jockey Joe Bravo and assumed command from the gate. Big Brown found himself trapped on the rail the first turn, first by Coal Play and then by Atoned.
However, the bay colt by Boundary, Big Brown was able to swing out entering the bend, and raced behind and outside Coal Play the entire length of the backstretch.
Coal Play began to get away from Big Brown rounding the turn, and Desormeaux put the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner into a drive to give chase.
Coal Play surged ahead for a furlong, but in the final eighth of a mile, Big Brown asserted himself while racing in the center of the track and drew clear the last sixteenth.
“He found a new gear and just kept sticking his neck out,” winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said. “I knew he was going to get there. At the top of the stretch that horse (Coal Play) took off, but Big Brown took off after him. He just kept coming, and I knew we’d get him.”
“He showed up today,” race horse trainer Rick Dutrow said of Big Brown. “That other horse ran a huge, huge race. The last eighth, he got himself together and showed us what he’s made of.”
Michael Iavarone, co-president and co-CEO of the IEAH syndicate, said, “I thought we were in trouble at the quarter-pole. Nick Zito’s horse ran so big. He kicked away from us and I thought we were in trouble. This was another dimension for Big Brown – he showed his heart and courage.”
Race horse trainer Nick Zito, who upset the Belmont Stakes with Da’Tara and looked like he would spring another surprise today, was happy with his two-three finish.
“I thought we had a helluva shot turning for home,” race horse trainer Nick Zito said. “I thought to myself ‘We could do this again.’ I’m very happy right now. We made him (Big Brown) run, that’s for sure. But this is good for racing. Coal Play ran a big race.”
Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has been aboard in all Big Brown’s races this year, was effusive in his praise. “Big Brown is the best horse I’ve ever ridden,” said Desormeaux, who passed the 5,000 mark in career wins last week. “Today he showed he’s a warrior. He’s always won his other races with such ease. Today he showed what courage he had. Grade 1′s, they don’t give them away, and Big Brown earned it today.”
The $600,00 winner’s share of the Haskell’s $1 million purse raised Big Brown’s career earnings to $3,314,500.
Horse racing news edited from www.monmouthpark.com.
Tags: Alaazo, Atoned, Big Brown, Coal Play, Cool Coal Man, Magical Forest, Nistle's Crunch
"Big Brown Redeems Himself & Won The 2008 Haskell Invitational At Monmouth Park" was posted on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Monmouth Park, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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