JoeKristufek

Big Brown Question Mark 

Following his Big Brown Belmont bust, none of the people connected with the horse could shed any light. Jockey Kent Desormeaux took no blame, he simply said he had no horse. The vets said Big Brown showed no sign of lameness after the race.  Trainer Dick Dutrow Jr. refused immediate comment, and later said he had no idea what went wrong.

It was a hot day, but the horse did not sweat pre-race, and he looked completely composed and happy. Following the dull run, he showed no signs of heat exhaustion. For now, it's a puzzler.

I guess the horse just didn't feel like running.

The sign of a true champion.

Lost in the "racing needs a Triple Crown winner" discussion was JP's prophetic warning to all..."Let's all hope to the heavens that it's a safe Belmont for all involved"...he continued..."I know everyone says BIG BROWN is healthy enough to run; and I know there will be a state vet give him the OK to go. But I'm also not naive enough to think that the millions at stake and historical significance aren't factors for all factions to run -- and not just the connections, of which I've been critical. And, as they say, there's "horse sound" and then there's "racing sound." We know for a fact that horses with problems run in every single race, every single day, from all types of horsemen, both respected and unrespected".

Of course the horse didn't feel like running.

He wasn't 100 percent, probably nowhere close.

The Triple Crown is magnetic. Sure the connections wanted to run and win, but the real pressure came from the mystique of history. The Derby winner HAS to run in the Preakness, and if they with that too, they HAVE to run in the Belmont.

The game NEEDS a Triple Crown winner, remember?

We all collectively sighed when Casino Drive scratched, but had Big Brown bowed out, the groan would have been deafening.

Will Big Brown ever run again?

Will the connections feel the horse deserves a shot at redemption?

They're talking about Jim Dandy, Travers and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Will we ever see the real Big Brown again?

The one who had legend written all over him?

Curlin versus Big Brown?!?!?!

Um.....

Should this horse come back and return to top form, even for just a start or two, it would be good for racing. Like Mike Tyson, casual fans will always want to see him compete, looking for him to uncork that devistating knockout blow.

Maybe he should walk the streets of Vegas and pose for photos.

If he doesn't run again, how will he be remembered?

As one of the greatest physical specimens of our time who was retired for selfish reasons, or as a steriod induced freak who failed miserably on the biggest stage of all.

Will he run again?

My guess is no. He's done. Time to make the donuts.

I hope I'm wrong. Again.