Belmont Defeat Impossible - Dutrow

3-Time Triple Crown Loser Bob Baffert Sees Humor in Dutrow's Spot

Jun 6, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg

Richard Dutrow, Jr. says there is "no way" Big Brown can lose his Triple Crown attempt June 7. Trainer Bob Baffert likes Dutrow's situation, one Baffert has lost 3 times.

Big Brown's trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr., refuses to accept the idea of defeat June 7 in the Belmont Stakes, where his horse will attempt to become just the twelfth American Triple Crown winner in history. Trainer Bob Baffert finds humor in the situation as one who has gone to the winner's circle three times in three different years in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, only to lose the elusive 1-1/2 miles Belmont and the TC title each time.

Nine rivals will try to throw Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Big Brown off track in the 140th renewal of the Belmont on Saturday.

Baffert Not Put Off By Dutrow's Braggart Attitude

Trainer Baffert says one knows when he has the right stuff -- a special champion -- and Dutrow knows Big Brown.

Baffert went to the Belmont Stakes three times, 1997, 1998, and in 2002, with the Triple Crown championship on the line to be hauled in. He had champion caliber horses in those runs: Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and War Emblem, respectively. But anything can upset the TC apple cart, and something always did for Baffert.

Silver Charm ran into Touch Gold, a colt with hooves patched by Ian McKinlay, the same veterinarian attending to Big Brown's quartrer cracks. Silver Charm placed second in the Belmont. Real Quiet was let go too soon by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown's rider, who will likely have a long memory with him Saturday. War Emblem, perhaps the most talented of Baffert's trio, stumbled horrifically coming out of the gate and couldn't make up the ground to Sarava, piloted by Edgar Prado, who Saturday will ride Casino Drive, likely to be Big Brown's strongest rival.

There's an eerie sense of things past having a connection to this Saturday's Belmont. Anything can happen. Still, Baffert likes Dutrow's confidence, and his style. When a Dutrow horse lost to Baffert's Midnight Lute not so long ago, Dutrow was right in line with congratulations and a handshake, Baffert says.

Veitch: Everything Has to Be Perfect

Alydar lost three straight races to Affirmed in 1978, by a 1-1/2 length margin, a nose, and a neck, in that order. The races were the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, and Affirmed was that year the last of the Triple Crown winners.

The weather, the horse's fitness, the break, the pace, the jockey, the will must all be in place to perfection, says Veitch, Alydar's former trainer.

Dutrow Remains Cemented in Place

He can't see a post position beating Big Brown. He can't see another horse in the Belmont good enough to stay with Big Brown. He can't see any reason Big Brown would lose. He's going to be in the winner's circle to meet Big Brown. When they turn for home, "It's all good, babe." That is the immovable opinion of Richard Dutrow, Jr.

Birdstone Conquered Smarty

The last unbeaten to attempt to win the Triple Crown was Smarty Jones in 2004. Smarty couldn't hold a large lead in the Belmont, falling to the small anti-hero, Birdstone, ridden by Edgar Prado.

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Comments

Jun 7, 2008 10:14 AM

Guest :

Dear Barabara Anne,

The situation you're telling us there, is exactly the one we have in France with the Prix de Diane. One of the most famous horse race of our country known as the most glamourous of the year. It's the event wher both horses and hats are at the "parade" !
This year, one filly seems to have the top over the thirteen others. Her name is Zarkava. She comes undefeted, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré - one of the most well known traners of France. Her fame, and her talent, are such that she has already, for most of gamblers and bookmarkers, won the race. She didn't run the Jockey Club (the French Derby, because she was said to fear an other filly : Natagora, who ended third, last week-end behind Vision d'Etat and Famous Name.
Nevertheless, one voice tries to make things sound a little different. It's the voice of Corine Barande-Barbe. As a trainer, she knows more than anyone else the over-confidence that pears can show before great events. She also says that, whatever the end is, wheter Zarkava wins or not. She reminds us the victory of her own filly in that very same race. It was Carling, a sucessfull breading coming from nowhere. When she won the Prix de Diane with Curling, in 1995, she was "no one, coming from nowhere". Thanks to that race and to that filly, she trully became part of the "race world". Her message should be heard : "it's still horce racing. It's still sports and anything can happen".

Yours sincerely

Alexandra Lombard

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