Published: May 03, 2008 09:10 pm         

Big Brown wins 134th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All week, Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. walked with a confident swagger on the backside of Churchill Downs because he knew had the horse to beat in the 134th Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday, he showed why he was so confident.

Big Brown won the Derby 4 lengths over second-place Eight Belles, the lone filly in the field. Big Brown became the first Derby winner to win his fourth career start since Regret in 1915. In addition, the bay colt was the first horse to win the Derby from the No. 20 post since Clyde Van Dusen did it in 1929. Big Brown is the seventh undefeated Derby champion and the third in the last five years.

“I can’t describe the feeling right now,” said Dutrow, who earned his first Derby victory. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Big Brown broke clean from the gate and was mired in the top five in turns 1-2 and in the backstretch, as he stayed on the outside. Coming off turn 4, Big Brown moved into third place and then took the lead for good at the top of the stretch while staying on the outside. Big Brown’s winning time was 2:01.82.

“It’s just the way that we envisioned things happening,” Dutrow said. “Big Brown puts himself where he needs to be in a race, and that’s what he did today. It’s all good and Big Brown showed up.”

Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux captured his third Derby title and became the eighth rider to win the Derby at least three times. Desormeaux said the far outside gate was the ideal post position for his colt.

“It was the perfect starting gate,” Desormeaux said. “We dreamed of this happening. There were no distractions. You just glide over. I feel like the luckiest man alive.”

Big Brown paid $6.80 to win, $5 to place and $4.80 to show. Eight Belles dished out $10.60 to place and $6.40 to show. Third-place Denis of Cork paid $11.60 to show.

A $2 exacta ticket was worth $141.60, a $2 trifecta paid $3,445 and a $2 superfecta garnered $58,737.80.

Eight Belles’ runner-up finish came with a tragic price. After the race, the filly fell to the track and it was discovered she had broken both front ankles. The filly was immediately euthanized.

The unfortunate circumstances denied Eight Belles’ trainer Larry Jones a chance to become the first trainer since Ben Jones in 1952 to win both the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Jones won the Oaks on Friday with Proud Spell.

Wood Memorial winner Tale of Ekati placed fourth, followed by Recapturetheglory and Santa Anita Derby victory Colonel John, the second betting choice.

Anak Nakal, trained by two-time Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito, was seventh and Pyro finished eighth. Todd Pletcher, one of the top trainers in the United States, came up short of winning the Derby again. Cowboy Cal was ninth, while Monba finished dead last in 20th. Pletcher is now 0-for-21 in the Derby.

Finishing in positions 10-19 were Z Fortune, Smooth Air, Visionaire, Court Vision, Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Bob Black Jack, Gayego, Big Truck and Adriano.

Now, Big Brown will focus on the Preakness Stakes on May 17 and attempt to make run at the coveted Triple Crown.

“I’m not going to have time to train him. I’m just going to play around with him a little bit,” Dutrow said about the Preakness.

Saturday’s attendance was 157,770, the second-largest crown in Derby history.



Kevin Harris writes for The Evening News and The Tribune in Jeffersonville, Ind.





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WIN PLACE SHOW

20 Big Brown 6.80 5.00 4.80

5 Eight Belles 10.60 6.40

16 Denis of Cork 11.60



$2 exacta (20-5) 141.60

$2 trifecta (20-5-16) 3,445.60

$2 superfecta (20-5-16-2) 58,737.80