Curlin had his debut on the turf surface at the Man O’War Stakes, but he fell short in his late drive and finished second to 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf Champion Red Rocks. It was Curlin’s first loss in six starts, but his good showing should be enough for trainer Steve Asmussen to continue to prepare him for the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at Longschamps Racecourse in Paris on Sunday, October 5.

Curlin should rebound from the loss without any problems. He finished second in his first attempt on the turf, and once he gets used to the surface he should be dominant again. Placing in the Man O’War should not be looked at as a loss, just a stepping stone towards mastering the turf. If Curlin has shown anything, it’s that he has stamina and longevity. One second-place finish on a new surface does not mean he’s done.

Get all your Breeders’ Cup odds here.

The Breeders’ Cup has increased the number of graded stakes races where a winning horse gets automatic entry into the corresponding Breeders’ Cup Race. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a list of sanctioned races where the horses get an undisputed chance for entry into the $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held October 24-25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., which will be televised live on ESPN and ABC.

Previously, horses were chosen for the Breeders’ Cup based on a point system earned in graded stakes races throughout the year, and via selection by racing experts. They have added four more races to the list from last season, bringing the total to 17 races with “win and you’re in” opportunities. Added are the Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park, Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar, Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) at Turfway Park, and Tiznow Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Curlin (shown here) is headed to Paris; will Big Brown join him?

As soon as Big Brown finished last at the Belmont Stakes, the attention of horse racing fans turned to the Breeders’ Cup and a potential showdown with Curlin. But that dream matchup fizzled when Curlin trainer Steve Asmussen said he was contemplating moving the 2007 Eclipse winner onto turf for a crack at the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The futures market has responded by posting odds of –350 that the two thoroughbreds will not race each other in 2008. Still, the allure of a potential Big Brown-Curlin matchup is too potent to pass up for some observers. ESPN’s Bill Finley has an interesting solution: Send Big Brown to Paris.

Finley makes some sense. Big Brown’s reputation took a major hit at the Belmont, loose shoe or not. Beating Curlin on grass at one of the most important events in Europe would restore that reputation – not to mention make a whole pile of money.

Last year’s introduction of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge proved to be a successful way to draw attention to the most important race on the thoroughbred calendar outside of the Kentucky Derby. It also gave some added credibility to the stakes races who attached their names to the Challenge.

Winners of each race automatically qualify for this October’s festivities at Santa Anita Park; here are some of the highlights on the remaining schedule Grade I Challenge races for 2008.

July 5: United Nations, Monmouth Park, Turf
July 12: Princess Rooney, Calder, F&M Sprint
July 26: Whitney H., Saratoga, Classic
Aug. 3: John C. Mabee, Del Mar, F&M Turf
Aug 9: Arlington Million, Arlington Park, Turf
Aug. 24: Pacific Classic, Del Mar, Classic
Sept. 7: Woodbine Mile, Woodbine, Mile
Sept. 27: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Belmont Park, Classic
Oct. 4: Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity, Keeneland, Juvenile
Oct. 4: Champagne S., Belmont Park, Juvenile

Big Brown captured the hopes of racing fans over the last few months. We all hoped to see the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, but he fizzled in the Belmont and that dream was lost. So does this mean that Big Brown is finished? It could be.

Most great horses have had bad races where they just weren’t up to running at their best. They are animals after all, not machines that we can depend on performing as long as appropriate mechanical preparations are done before the race. But Big Brown has a pedigree that points to him having a short career. He was bred for strength, not longevity, and both his sire and dam had dominant yet short racing careers.

We will find out whether or not Big Brown has anything left in the tank at the $1M Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on August 3rd.

Big Brown update: Did a loose shoe cause Big Brown to lose the Belmont Stakes? Read this article.

After a massively disappointing last-place finish at the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown is set to make a triumphant return to horse racing at Monmouth Park Racetrack in August. (And by triumphant I mean brave.)

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner will be running in the Haskell Invitational on August 3, 2008 in Oceanport, New Jersey. A major race for three year olds (in between the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup), the Haskell Invitational offers a purse of US $1,000,000.

“The Haskell’s clearly a first target right now,” said Michael Iavarone, who heads the International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH) Inc. stable that owns 75-percent of Big Brown.

Big Brown’s first race back following the Belmont Stakes wasn’t supposed to happen until August (the Travers in Saratoga), but his owners felt an earlier return would be favorable.

“We’re trying to avoid certain things that happened in the Belmont Stakes,” Iavarone said. “We’re trying to avoid the heat; it’s a lot more hot and humid (at Saratoga), it’s a lot cooler down by the Jersey Shore. More importantly is the surface. It’s a lot tighter racetrack, more conducive to his style.”

Last year’s winner at 3/1 odds was Any Given Saturday, who put away the field by 4 1/2 lengths.

Imagine the Boston Celtics, led by Rajon Rondo, facing the Los Angeles Lakers and team captain Jordan Farmar.

This is what the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing is all about. Because those three races are limited to 3-year-olds, we don’t get to see the best horses go head-to-head. Instead, we’re waiting for Oct. 25 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see Big Brown and 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin square off.

How lucky? The horse racing futures market has posted odds of +275 that Big Brown and Curlin will race against each other in 2008. It’s a blessing that we even get to see Curlin race as a 4-year-old. Every time he steps onto the track, he risks losing potentially enormous stud fees. For Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow, the risk of running the Classic is even greater: Curlin is –200 to finish in front of Big Brown should they race.

Even though Big Brown’s trainer, Rick Dutrow, is denying that steroids (or a lack thereof) played a role in the colt’s monumental loss at the 2008 Belmont Stakes last Saturday, he’s putting the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner back on the juice.

“He doesn’t need any drugs; the Winstrol had nothing to do with it,” Dutrow said.

Still, Big Brown is expected to get a shot of the stuff this weekend and is expected to start training next week for his next race, the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23, before he eventually makes his appearance at the Breeders’ Cup.

Steroid use is legal in 28 U.S. States but the National Thoroughbred Racing Association is looking to ban steroids from all racetracks by next year.

Does Dutrow still blame Big Brown’s jockey for the huge loss?

Both trainer and jockey met on Wednesday, the first meeting since Saturday’s loss at Belmont Park. Dutrow told ESPN that they’re “back on target” and that “I just feel better because he came by to talk about the Belmont ride.”

That’s a far cry from what he had to say about jockey Kent Desormeaux earlier this week. Obviously still dumbfounded by what transpired at the Belmont Stakes, Dutrow said: “I’m sure Big Brown didn’t have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way Desormeaux was switching him all over the damn track.”

Big Brown, in his moment of glory did what no other Triple Crown contender has ever done. Not only did he lose but finished dead last.

Credit should go to Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown’s jockey. When he realized he had no horse left he eased him up. If only the jockey of Eight Belles had been paying attention things might be different.

There is lots of speculation on why this happened. Was it his quarter crack that was said to be only minor? Could it have been due to the fact that it was one of the hottest days in history? Was it rigged? Or could it have been due to the fact that there was steroid and drug use?

There are many who think that drugs could have been an issue. In a quote from John Wilson Bryant, a man who has worked at many racetracks such as, Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Elmont and Miami to name a few:

“Even at three years old, which is the age for the Triple Crown races, horses are not fully developed. They knees have not stopped growing so it takes a spectacular animal to win the triple crown and I believe the use of drugs have diluted the gene pool so much that horses cannot compete without drugs and that is sad. Horse Racing has got to stop the use of drugs so that the strong horse who can win without drugs can again stand at stud and produce colts and filly’s that can win the Triple Crown without the use of drugs.”

What are your thoughts?

Giant-killer Da’ Tara captures the 2008 Belmont Stakes

With all the post-race fallout surrounding Big Brown’s failed bid for the Triple Crown, no one really noticed that a 38-1 long shot led from wire to wire and won the race by 5 1/4 lengths. Da’ Tara won the Belmont in impressive fashion bringing his record to 7-2-2-1.

He paid $79.80 on a $2 bet to win, $28 to place and $14.80 to show. Denis of Cork paid $5.40 and $4.10 for his second-place finish. Both Anak Nakal and Ready’s Echo paid $7.60 for their third-place finish.

So we will have to continue to wait for a Triple Crown champion at least another year. Big Brown was held up by jockey Kent Desormeaux after the final turn, where he was losing ground with every stride. As it has for so many Triple Crown hopefuls, Belmont Park was too much too soon for a horse that was not bred for longevity.

Only 137 days to go until the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships!