Big Brown wins Derby; Eight Belles euthanized
Favored Big Brown thrills with explosive finish, but broken ankles spell end for runner-up Eight Belles
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Once again, majestic triumph and sudden tragedy ran as I and IA on the Triple Crown trail.
Big Brown, a 2-1 favorite defying an enormous chunk of Camptown convention, won the Kentucky Derby from Post 20 in front of 157,770 at Churchill Downs. But the 134th Run for the Roses was marred when second-place finisher Eight Belles -- the only filly in the race -- broke both front ankles just past the finish line and was immediately euthanized.
(AP)
PHOTO GALLERY
Opening Day at Arlington
The sad scene was chillingly reminiscent of the 2006 Preakness, when heavily favored Derby victor Barbaro shattered three bones in his right hind ankle in the opening furlong. The gallant champion fought for his life for eight months before being put down in January 2007.
Eight Belles, trying to complete an all-distaff Oaks-Derby double for trainer Larry Jones, had no such chance. Said Dr. Larry Bramlege, the attending veterinarian: ''She was easing down, near an outrider by the seven-eighths pole, when he saw both ankles collapse. I was shocked to hear him call out. The left front opened the skin and was contaminated. The right had a broken sesamoid. She did not have a front leg to stand on even to get into the ambulance. There is absolutely nothing you can do.''
And there was absolutely nothing Eight Belles nor any of the other 18 starters could do about Big Brown during the running of the mile-and-one-quarter classic. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux and trained by Rick Dutrow, the son of the unheralded Boundary broke well, cruised wide behind a phalanx of five front runners and rolled home toward future dates with immortality.
Big Brown ($6.80) won by 4 3/4 lengths and completed the race over a track rated ''fast'' in 2:01.82. Eight Belles (13-1) finished her last race ahead of Illinois Derby fizzler Denis of Cork (27-1) and Barclay Tagg's fourth-place Tale of Ekati (37-1). Illinois Derby champ Recapturetheglory (49-1) was a pace factor throughout under Eddie Baird and held fifth.
The brash Dutrow joined the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Namath for boldy predicting victory before a main-stage national sporting event. After his colt's smashing win, the 47-year-old East Coaster said: ''The only reason I said what I said was because [the media] kept asking the questions and Big Brown kept giving me the answers.''
Big Brown -- named for the big brown trucks of United Parcel Service -- continued to give Dutrow and connections the right answers Saturday. After the colt opened his career with a 12-length score in a maiden turf race at Saratoga last September, Wall Street operative Michael Iavarone -- the head of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings -- called Dutrow and told him to try to buy Big Brown. The result was the purchase of 75 percent of the horse for a price reported to be close to $3 million. Original owner Paul Pompa Jr. retained the other 25 percent.
Since then, Big Brown greatly expanded his national reputation by blistering 11 foes from Post 12 in the Florida Derby five weeks ago. In his three career decisions before the Kentucky Derby, he amassed winning margins totaling 29 lengths. Still, questions lingered.
In winning the Derby, Big Brown became the first horse since Exterminator in 1918 to triumph with less than five career starts. He also became the first winner from Post 20 since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. Dutrow, who a decade ago was sleeping in tack rooms on New York backstretches, later emphatically denied that he had bet $100,000 on his colt:
''I did not bet today, and I never will bet on this horse,'' he said. ''The reason I didn't bet today was because it was the Kentucky Derby and I needed no extra incentive.''
Desormeaux, who became one of only five jockeys to win three Kentucky Derbies, echoed the sentiments of his boss: ''Talent-wise, this is the best horse I've ever ridden. I asked for run at the start, then I cruised [toward the final turn], and then I asked him again. He responded, and we were in a gallop by the quarter pole.''
The first mile of the race was mere prelude to the triumph and tragedy to come. Richard Migliore drove Bob Black Jack (29-1), the world-record holder for six furlongs, to the lead through quarter cums of :23.30, :47.04 and 1:11.14. Cowboy Cal (39-1), Cool Coal Man (44-1), Recapturetheglory and Eight Belles were tucked in attendance with Big Brown lurking on the Ohio River side.
When the money running started into the final turn, Baird did a notable job keeping Recapturetheglory going and could have carried the winner wide. But he didn't, allowing Big Brown to wheel-and-zoom at will. Eight Belles clung to the rail. Denis of Cork completed a long trip from 20th to show. Immortality was in the air.
''Down the backside, I had some concern because it looked like some horses were moving,'' Dutrow said. ''But when I saw Kent staying calm, cool and collected, that made simmer down. It looked like he a lot of horse left. You have no idea how lucky we are to have his horse.''
Chalk players at KD 134 can only agree.
