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Freshman Sire: Big Brown

January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Big Brown

Big Brown

It doesn’t get much better than Big Brown (Boundary x Mien by Nureyev) when it comes to race record. Purchased at the Keeneland April 2007 sale for $190k, he went on to win his debut on the weeds at Saratoga by 11 ¼ lengths. He wouldn’t race again until March when a stroke of luck saw his allowance race washed off the turf. He ran off to win over a fast track by 12 ¾ lengths.

It was after the allowance win that most of us suspected Big Brown could be a great horse. We knew he was a great horse when he took the Grade 1 Florida Derby (111 BRISnet figure) in his next start and the Kentucky Derby (110 BRISnet figure) after that. He romped home by 5 ¼ lengths in the Preakness Stakes and looked well on the way to winning the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

Then the seemingly impossible happened. Big Brown, rank and incorrigible, finished a distanced dead last. This would be the first and only defeat of his eight race career.

Big Brown would race two more times. He won the Haskell Invitational (110 BRISnet figure) and the newly created $500k Monmouth Stakes (98 BRISnet figure) against older horses on the grass.

Big Brown is a son of Boundary who is a son of the great stallion Danzig. Boundary wasn’t particularly good or bad at stud, but did produce two top horses other than Big Brown in Grade 1 winners Minardi and Pomeroy.

His first dam, Mien, is a lightly raced and unaccomplished daughter of top stallion Nureyev. Despite fertility problems, Nureyev was able to produce nine champions, among them Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Theatrical.

The second dam, Miasma, won two races from 19 starts. She is by Group 1 winner Lear Fan.

On the whole, Big Brown has an unimpressive pedigree. The female family is modest at best and his sire, Boundary, was never a blockbuster.

One of the biggest problems I have with Big  Brown is his trainer, Rick Dutrow. I have to wonder how much of his overpowering quickness was a result of the “Dutrow Factor” and steroids. Dutrow has a knack for taking a seemingly average horse and turning it into a star. For examples, check out Thisonesforphil and more recently, C C’s Pal.

Another problem is a lack of soundness in his pedigree. Big Brown himself experienced problems with his feet, as did his sire, Boundary. The first six horses in his family raced an average of 7.16 times. His sire, Danzig, raced just three times. The same can be said for broodmare sire Nureyev. His dam, Mien, was raced only twice.

Big Brown’s stud career began at Three Chimney’s Farm in 2009 with a fee of $65k. He was bred to over 100 mares with the majority of them being stakes caliber. The early auction results are very encouraging. He had 16 horses sell for at least $100k with the best going for $310k and a median of $67.5k.

Despite the strong auction results, I have a hard time seeing Big Brown exploding as a freshman sire. His progeny might not be versatile enough to compete with their best peers until it’s time to go two turns.

The Kentucky Derby winner shuttled to Australia in 2010. Due to a much greater focus on turf racing, the horses he produced there might be more successful by comparison.

In 2012 Big Brown is standing for $35k at Three Chimneys. He’s still overvalued at that price. He offered very little value at his opening price and his freshman crop will show that. I have a very hard time seeing him compete for top freshman sire honors and would be quite surprised to see him make the top 3.

 

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Racing Superstars Off To Fast Start In The Shed

February 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It’s funny to hear about a stallion siring his first foal when you can remember the sire’s first race like it was yesterday. That’s how I felt today when I learned that J Be K’s first son was born. You may recall that J Be K took the Grade 2 Woody Stephens in 2008. The colt is a half brother to Grade 3 winner E Z Warrior and multiple stakes winner J Z Warrior.

J Be K isn’t the only one getting off to a good start in the shed. Undefeated Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava gave birth to a filly on Saturday, Febuary 6. Zarkava is owned by Aga Khan IV and was bred to his sire Dalakhani who won the Arc in 2003. She is going to be bred to Sea The Stars  who also Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next. Aga Khan described the filly in the quote below.

“a lovely individual that is correct, strong, and full of quality. It was a straight-forward foaling and Zarkava has proved herself to be a good mother. The Dalakhani filly is a good size for a first foal.”

Grade 1 Suburban Handicap winner Frost Giant recently became a father. The son of Giant’s Causeway has every right to be a success at stud, and I’ll be watching his progress closely. Other sires to recently produce their first foal include Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, Grade 1 winners Street Boss, Majestic Warrior, Circular Quay and Grade 2 winners Lewis Michael and Ready’s Image.

In other breeding news, Grade 1 winner Great Hunter will be standing in Venezuela at Haras Los Semanas after being privately purchased. Grade 1 winner Square Eddie has been retired to stud duty after several lackluster performances and an injury. I can remember watching every single one of the previously mentioned horses and I actually bet most of them at one point or another. I’m feeling old and I’m still a young man. Imagine how I will feel in 20 years!

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Big Bad Brown!

May 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment


I don’t know if Big Brown could’ve won the Preakness with any more ease then he did. Coming down the stretch it looked like he was jogging. Nobody could get near this horse once he really started running. Albeit, the field was poor, and he should have won convincingly. I was glad to see Kent Desormeaux gear Big Brown down. He gave the horse a very heady ride.

The Belmont Stakes is shaping up to be Big Brown’s toughest challenge. Denis of Cork, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby will be back. He is a closer with a monster kick and will be looking to run down the pace. Casino Drive, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes will be Big Brown’s main challenger. The colt hails from Japan and is undefeated in two starts. He is ¾ brother to last years winner, Rags to Riches. Casino Drive is also ½ to the 2006 winner, Jazil.

Will Big Brown win the Triple Crown? I can’t say yes for sure. I just finished watching Smarty Jones win the Preakness in 2004 and he won easier and against a better field. I hope Big Brown can get it done. 30 years has certainly been long enough. Big Brown should be fresh and ready to go for the Belmont Stakes. While im hardly going out a limb here, I will make my prediction. The time has come. Big Brown will wear the crown.

I found an interesting article about trainer Rick Dutrow. Click here to check it out!

Filed Under: Horse Racing News Tagged With:

Almost Immortal, Part II

May 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Click here for part one.

Real Quiet (1998)- Bob Baffert’s second consecutive Kentucky Derby winner had a poor start to his career. It took him seven starts to break his maiden. During his two year old campaign, he won the Hollywood Futurity. Kent Desormeaux rode him to victory in the Derby, and then a convincing Preakness win. He lost the Belmont by a nose to Victory Gallop. Some critics attribute this to Desormeaux using too much horse early in the race. Real Quiet went on to win the Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pimlico Special. He sired 2007 Breeders Cup Sprint winner, Midnight Lute.

Charismatic (1999)- D. Wayne Lukas’s Derby winner was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without running a 100 BSF. His number for the Lexington Stakes was 99. At odds of 8-1, he defeated Menifee for a second time in the Preakness. In the Belmont, Lemon Drop Kid reeled him in during the last 1/8 of a mile. His leg broke in two places during the race, and jockey Chris Antley sensed distress. He hopped off and held his leg up, probably saving his life.

War Emblem (2002)- This colt returned Bob Baffert to the Derby’s winner circle for the third time in six years. His front running style was too much for his competition in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. War Emblem stumbled out of the gate in the Belmont, and this likely cost him the victory. He refuses to breed to most mares, but has three stakes winner from twenty-six foals.

Funny Cide (2003)- Barclay Tagg’s winner became the first gelding to win the Derby since Clyde Van Doosen did it in 1929. He won the Preakness by a smashing 9 ¾ lengths. He went too fast in a workout, and lost the Belmont to a fresh Empire Maker. Funny Cide would go on to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The gelding is now retired from racing.

Smarty Jones (2004)- Then relatively unknown, John Servis won the Derby with Smarty Jones. Smarty was the first undefeated horse since Seattle Slew to win the Derby, having reached a perfect seven for seven record. He won the Preakness by a record 11 ½ lengths, and the racing world was abuzz with comments on his chances. “Smarty Parties” were held all over the U.S. in honor of the colt. He finished a crushing second in the Belmont to Birdstone. He now stands at Three Chimneys for $100,00 per live foal.

Afleet Alex (2005)- If not for a big time track bias at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day this colt may have done the impossible by winning the Triple Crown. He ended up a close third in the Run for the Roses before taking the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He hit his knees in the Preakness, but somehow found a way to win. He dominated hte Belmont Stakes before retiring to stud.

Big Brown (2008)- It appeared the stars had aligned in 2008. Big Brown was a spectacular horse and the competition wasn’t much. He won the first two legs of the Triple Crown with ease, before inexplicably failing to fire and pulling up in the Belmont Stakes.

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Coming To a Track Near You: Curlin vs Big Brown

March 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Curlin was awfully impressive Saturday in Dubai. He was what I would call the easiest of winners. Albarado rode him beautifully and they captured the race in a very fast 2:00.15 and probably could’ve gone faster. I have my doubts about whether the champion will be returning to the United States. I expect him to be sold for a very hefty sum. I can only hope that I am wrong.

If Curlin does in fact return to the U.S. his greatest challenger may have risen on the same day he captured his biggest race. I’m sure you know who I’m referring to. Big Brown was about as impressive as can be in capturing the Florida Derby. He did what had never been done by winning from the 12 hole going 1 1/8. Not only did Big Brown win but he just missed the track record. Imagine if the horse had broke from the 6 hole!

I would like to stress that what I am about to say is very premature. Big Brown could be the one. You know the one I’m talking about. The one we have all been waiting for since 1978. He could be that horse. I’m not willing to say he is yet, but his performance was awe inspiring. He is the type of horse you have to be to win the Triple Crown. The fractions he set and the fact that he was still going away are unbelievable. I’ve got my fingers crossed.

Still yet he has one horse that will be his biggest challenge. No, I’m not talking about Pyro. War Pass has the kind of speed that can make you gasp. He showed he wasn’t invincible in the Tampa Bay Derby, but you have to remember how good this horse STILL is. I’m going to be watching him very closely next weekend in the Wood Memorial. His performance may decide whether or not Big Brown will have his way with things.

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