Twice, jockey Kent Desormeaux snuck a look behind him to see if anyone was gaining on Big Brown. His horse ran away with the Preakness on Saturday and now is pointed squarely down the path toward the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old with the perfect record heads for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks as the fourth horse this decade to try for the triple, a sweep last accomplished by Affirmed in 1978. The last to try was Smarty Jones in 2004.
Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who called his shot at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, sounded confident after Big Brown came back full of run after easily putting away the field of 11.
“I know we have horse left. There is no question,” Dutrow said. “He’s just shown up every step, every way,” he added. “I just can’t imagine him not showing up for the Belmont.”
As he did two weeks ago in a Kentucky Derby tainted darkly by the tragedy with Eight Belles, Big Brown delivered another stunning win, this time by 5 1/4 lengths. Macho Again was second and Icabad Crane was third.

Big Brown made history to win the 134th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but the race finished under a dark cloud as runner-up Eight Belles broke down on the track. Eight Belles, trained by Larry Jones and ridden by 20-year-old Gabriel Saez, was trying to become just the fourth filly to win the Derby. Minutes after the race the filly fell to the ground and Saez jumped off. She was found to have broken both front ankles and was humanely destroyed on the track. With the memory of Barbaro still fresh, Eight Belles’ devastating breakdown Saturday put increasing focus on a sport already suffering a decline in popularity.
Her death has raised major issues about the industry, including whether fillies should be allowed to run with males.
In 2006, Derby winner Barbaro shattered his fight rear leg at the start of the Preakness, as thousands of people watched in horror. Barbaro was euthanized eight months later.

1. War Pass … $1,470,000
2. Pyro … $1,020,000
3. Proud Spell (filly) … $880,000
4. Tale of Ekati … $738,000
5. Colonel John $720,000
6. Gayego … $640,000
7. Big Brown … $600,000
8. Z Humor … $579,000
9. Monba … $515,000
10. Kodiak Kowboy … $441,373

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