They’ve had their hearts broken too many times. A few casual fans find themselves stuck on the game, though a few more may have been repelled enough by Barbaro’s breakdown and Eight Belles’ death to give up for good something they no longer consider a sport. “I don’t see no dogfight in this race. com.
It’s like the kid who finally unwraps what he or she wants on Christmas morning.
We live in a different world now. They remember Touch Gold over Silver Charm in the 1997 Belmont, Victory Gallop beating Real Quiet in the final strides in ‘98. It’s like the kid who finally unwraps what he or she wants on Christmas morning.
I still haven’t seen another three-year-old step up to where he is supposed to give Big Brown a run for his money.
Plus, his competition appears not nearly as formidable as many of his predecessors who found themselves in the same magical spot. com. com.
“I see him winning by daylight, easy,” Dutrow said yesterday at Belmont Park with his now-trademark confidence. “Affirmed, he had Alydar, and Alydar was a nice horse.
“He’s not running against a real tough crowd and he’s a really good horse. (Bob) Baffert hooked some tough horses with Silver Charm.
That makes things look so easy in these races,” Dutrow was the first to admit yesterday. Regardless of today’s outcome, Big Brown will soon enough be off to the stallion shed to begin making miniature Big Browns and truckloads of big green. ”
Horse racing fans know better than to discount chance, however. “Affirmed, he had Alydar, and Alydar was a nice horse.
The way Big Brown’s trainer pictures it, his horse will break easily from the No.
We live in a different world now.
Casino Drive, an early 7-2 second choice, was having the hoof on a hind leg treated with ice and heat. “I don’t see no dogfight in this race.
“I don’t see no dogfight in this race. But what if this time, Dutrow is right?
What if Big Brown wins?
What, if after 30 years of hope, horse racing gets its fondest wish? Will there be patrons at every track, a casino in every pot? Will we be returned to the grand days when Seabiscuit was a national hero and jockeys walked Hollywood’s red carpets? Will graded stakes suddenly lead SportsCenter, a grateful nation having turned its attention back to a sport it once loved?
Probably not.
Will Big Brown win going wire to wire? Yes (+450) or No (-750); Will Big Brown take the lead and lose it? Yes (+175) or No (-250); Will Big Brown tie or beat Secretariat’s record of a 31-length win in 1973? Yes (+25,000) or No (-50,000). They remember Touch Gold over Silver Charm in the 1997 Belmont, Victory Gallop beating Real Quiet in the final strides in ‘98.
“He’s not running against a real tough crowd and he’s a really good horse.
Will Big Brown win going wire to wire? Yes (+450) or No (-750); Will Big Brown take the lead and lose it? Yes (+175) or No (-250); Will Big Brown tie or beat Secretariat’s record of a 31-length win in 1973? Yes (+25,000) or No (-50,000). He’s more versatile than War Emblem, his move even better than the one shown by Smarty Jones.
“He’s not running against a real tough crowd and he’s a really good horse.
“He’s not running against a real tough crowd and he’s a really good horse.
They remember Charismatic breaking down after his third-place finish in ‘99, War Emblem stumbling out of the gate in ‘02, Funny Cide losing to the superior Empire Maker in ‘03, Smarty Jones being caught and passed by Birdstone in ‘04. 1 hole in today’s Belmont Stakes, avoid whatever sinister strategy his opponents have concocted, find an inviting stretch of sandy track over which to gallop, surge to the lead, extend the lead, hit the wire and become the sport’s first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. Then what?
Here’s what: It’s better to know than not to know.
