Da' Tara Wires Belmont; Brown Out
Zito Colt Stays For Classic Win; Dutrow Can't Explain BB's No Show
Jun 8, 2008
Spoiling the Triple Crown is now the special territory of trainer Nick Zito, as his colt, Da' Tara wired the $1 million Belmont Stakes Saturday and left the triple threat, Big Brown, shaking his head and out of control. Big Brown's boisterously confident trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr., who was certain of a Triple Crown for Big Brown, was stricken to silence, seemingly stunned by the outcome of the race.
The crowd, as well as shocked, was not generous. Big Brown was booed as he came under the wire last, still fighting jockey Kent Desormeaux. The Hall of Fame jockey said he had no idea what the cause of Big Brown's poor performance entailed. He was adamant that the colt wasn't lame. When the time came to give chase to the leader, Da' Tara, "I had no horse," Desormeaux said.
Big Brown Eased in Stretch
Desormeaux said he saw no reason to continue to urge Big Brown on once it was obvious that the colt wasn't going to gain on Da' Tara. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes championship pair began to fade back, losing lengths with each stride after the turn for home. After passing under the wire last, Desormeaux got off his aggravated mount, patted Big Brown's neck, and departed from his second disappointing Triple Crown try in ten years.
Still, he called Big Brown the best he's ever ridden.
The unbeaten colt had slipped out of the No.1 gate and went right, then left toward the rail, and back out away from the fence as Desormeaux sorted out a path for him. But, again, he was boxed in by the leaders pulling back from the pace, the rail, and the horses on his right.
Celebration for Zito, Da' Tara Jockey, Owner LaPenta
It fell to Zito to collect his second Belmont Stakes victory with an underdog, and for the second time to thwart a Triple Crown attempt. His diminutive Birdstone ran down an exhausted Smarty Jones in 2004. Saturday, Da' Tara, who finished second in his last time out in the Barbaro Stakes, galloped through the race wire to wire in slow (2:29.65) but commanding fashion, winning by 5-1/4 lengths.
When young Alan Garcia asked the Tiznow colt for a little more in the stretch, Da' Tara kicked in, drew away from the fading Brown, Denis of Cork, who finished second, and Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo, all of whom were within striking distance. The latter two dead heated for third.
Dutrow Speechless
Having guaranteed a Big Brown Triple Crown title because he saw no other horse in the Belmont field with Big Brown's ability, trainer Dutrow, moved to silence, asked not to be interviewed following the defeat. He carefully scrutinzed Big Brown's every movement, and later said there was nothing he could see about Brown's demeanor that explained the loss.
Dutrow is uncertain about Brown's future. The Travers Stakes and the Breeders' Cup against 2007 HOY Curlin had been in the offing before the miserable Belmont result.
Superstition Might Have Started Belmont Day
In 2004, the death of former President Ronald Reagan was announced before the Belmont and Smarty Jones' big TC moment. Saturday, the announcement of the death of famous sportscaster, Jim McKay, who called many a horse race in his day, opened the day's events. Both Belmont favorites lost the day.
