Big Brown Falls Short of Secretariat's Legacy

Unlike Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Big Brown upset at the Belmont Stakes. (AP Images)"]

Going into Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, many observers dared to compare Big Brown to the great Secretariat, who displayed similar dominating victories in the Derby and Preakness Stakes before his record-setting Belmont performance in 1973.

Like Secretariat, Big Brown started from the inside, the shortest route to Belmont’s first sweeping turn and the starting position that has produced 23 previous winners of the historic race.

Secretariat’s break was clean and with no one in his path, jockey Ron Turcotte went right for the lead with the big colt. He assumed command almost immediately, getting the inside advantage on Sham, who went right up on his outside to try and pressure him. The two raced together around the first turn where Secretariat was given his head and drew away from his intimidated rival, soon increasing his lead to 10 lengths with Turcotte sitting still and letting his colt’s large stride increase the advantage. At the far turn, Secretariat’s gasping rivals had become discouraged and were now spinning their wheels. He turned into the homestretch at least 20 lengths ahead of the others and drew away to a 31 length victory in track record time.

Like his immortal predecessor, Big Brown broke with his field and had a clear run to take the rail and control of the race. This was the crossroads in history where the two colts’ races took different paths. Kent Desormeaux fought his mount to keep him off the slow pace and the outside horses quickly surrounded him. Longshot and eventual winner Da’ Tara, with Allan Garcia up, came from the outside and gained the rail in front of Big Brown. Robby Albarado guided Tale of Ekati into a position outside Big Brown that would force the long-striding colt into a trap. Desormeaux took the bait, hitting the breaks and wheeling Big Brown to the outside of Tale of Ekati where the colt appeared to lose focus.

It was soon obvious that Big Brown’s attempt at a Triple Crown wouldn’t duplicate that of Secretariat’s. Desormeaux eased his mount in the stretch when he was hopelessly beaten and the comparisons between the two Belmont favorites were now far from the minds of those witnessing the dramatic event.

The grand finale of the Triple Crown is over but you can still get your odds for the next race at the Bodog Racebook. Get your online horse betting action today. Why not get a jump-start on the Breeders' Cup?