Big Brown Triumphs in Florida; Looks to Kentucky Derby

Big Brown galloped into the Kentucky Derby scene with a big win this Saturday at the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. (AP Images)

Big Brown entered the race with only two big wins under his belt and was making his Graded Stakes debut under Kent Desormeaux. Big Brown had a few challenges being untested and having the 12 post position, all doubts were definitely put to rest by the time he left the gate and made the first half mile. He hit the mile at 1:35 and finished off the race with a nice lead at 1:48.

"My plan was not to get on the lead, but rather to get close enough to the rail so as not to get caught wide. Riding him was like bounding through a meadow. He just galloped around,” jockey Desormeaux said “When a horse sets fractions like that and still tells me that he's got more, and that the other horses can't get to him, that's something special."

Smooth Air came up well with Tomcito making a brave late run to fill out the top three.

Get an early start on your Kentucky Derby betting in the Bodog Racebook today.