Big Brown Favored to Win Haskell Invitational

Big Brown will race from post position 4 at the Haskell Invitational.

With a 15-day suspension for a Kentucky Derby incident on appeal, trainer Rick Dutrow is focusing now on this weekend's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

This time around Dutrow isn't guaranteeing a win by Big Brown, but he is saying that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horse looks great and by all accounts should put in a great run on Sunday. Big Brown is currently the odds on favorite to win.

"He looks amazing," Dutrow said. "He's shiny, he's happy. He looks as good as he always has."

Big Brown has been stabled at Aqueduct and according to Dutrow, is scheduled to have a three-furlong blowout on Friday morning and then ship to Monmouth on Saturday.

Prior to the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown was unbeaten in five starts.

Here's the prospected field of seven for this Sunday's $1 Million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park:

Magical Forest
Cool Coal Man
Alaazo
Big Brown
Nistle's Crunch
Coal Play
Atoned

Get all your horse racing odds and Breeders' Cup odds here.

Big Brown Helps to Make Belmont Stakes History

The 2008 Belmont Stakes may go down as one of the most nail-biting events for horse racing fans, and the most disappointing loss for Big Brown...what with that illusive Triple Crown on the line. Nonetheless, the 2008 Kentucky Derby winner and 2008 Preakness Stakes winner did help to set some impressive on-track wagering numbers.

On-track wagering for the 2008 Belmont Stakes was the second highest in Belmont Park history, a 49.9% increase over 2007 ($13,256,019 from $8,843,720 in 2007). The total handle increased by 32.6% to $100,378,472 (up from $75,686,429 in 2007).

"Despite a downturn in the economy and softness in the thoroughbred racing industry, we're pleased with the modest increase of the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meeting," NYRA president and chief executive Charles Hayward said in a statement. "Clearly a big driver of the numbers was Big Brown's Belmont Stakes Triple Crown attempt, but this was somewhat offset by the loss of a racing day."

Perhaps one of the more impressive numbers was the attendance for Belmont Stakes Day. A crowd of 94,476 was on hand to watch Big Brown make a run for the Triple Crown (compared to an attendance of 46,870 in 2007).

Next up: the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships!

Bo Derek Appointed Commissioner of California Horse Racing Board

Derek's first strike as commissioner? Banning anabolic steroids in time for the 2008 Breeders' Cup.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week appointed Hollywood actress Bo Derek to commissioner of the California Horse Racing Board. Derek, an animal rights activist, along with six other CHRB panelists, will help govern the state's $4 billion racing industry, including its many controversial issues in wagering, medication and safety.

When asked if she intended to 'rock the boat' with her own personal opinions on animal welfare, Derek said: "Definitely not. I don't think I have to. I don't think it's necessary. I think we are all like-minded."

One of the first accomplishments of the newly formed board was banning the use of anabolic steroids, which will be in effect by the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on October 24-25. That will make the 2008 Breeers' Cup the first "anabolic-free Breeders' Cup in the history of the event," said Rick Arthur, the board's medical director.

Knowing that, you have to wonder what kind of an effect that will have on Rick Dutrow's decision to run Big Brown in the Breeders' Cup. (Dutrow maintains his horse doesn't need steroids to run a strong, fast race.)

Read more on Bo Derek's appointment to the CHRB and how the new ban may affect the upcoming Breeders' Cup here.

Get all your Breeders' Cup odds here.

Curlin Beaten In His Turf Debut

Curlin finished second to Red Rocks when odds-on favorite for the Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, his first race on turf.

Trainer Steve Asmussen stresses "all options" are open to Curlin as he recovers from his run behind Red Rocks in Saturday's Man o'War Stakes.

Curlin is reported to have taken the race in his stride but connections, who had been considering an audacious crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, are in no hurry to plot their next move.

Asmussen said: "Physically, he came out of the race great. There is no time frame - the evaluation will be continual. Our options are open."

Jess Jackson, of owners Stonestreet Farm, said those options could include another start on turf, which if successful, could send Curlin to Longchamp for the Prix Foy on September 14 ahead of the Arc.

Leopardstown's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes was also mooted as a possibility.

Curlin Workout for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Curlin, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, covered seven furlongs in 1 minute 31.30 seconds in his inaugural test on turf at Churchill Downs. The workout was the first step in what could be a trip to Paris to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5.

If Curlin runs in that race, it's unlikely he would also run in the Breeders' Cup Classic less than three weeks later. Big Brown's status up in the air and Heatseeker having retired mean the Classic field could lack a big-name attraction.

For now, trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing Curlin toward a racing debut on turf July 12 in either the Grade I, $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at New York's Belmont Park or the Grade III, $200,000 Arlington Handicap at Chicago's Arlington Park.

All of Curlin's races have been on dirt, which made Tuesday's work on grass a critical step toward the Arc de Triomphe. The most recent major American horse to star on dirt and then make the trip to Paris for the Arc de Triomphe was 1961 Kentucky Derby winner Carry Back, who finished 10th in a field of 24.