Big Brown Out of Breeders' Cup

In what is being called a complete fluke, the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday. According to Big Brown's co-owner, Michael Iavarone, the thoroughbred tore a three-inch piece of flesh off of his right front foot during a workout. Part of the hoof was also missing.

"This was a complete fluke," Iavarone said. "He hadn't had issues with his feet for awhile and to have him come up just like this was a shock to all of us."

The injury to the Breeders' Cup contender will take at least two months to heal, which means he'll have to take a pass on this year's big event at Santa Anita Park. This will no doubt have a huge effect on the betting public's interest, but any horse racing fan knows the importance of winning a race like the Breeders' Cup Classic, with or without Big Brown.

Get all your Breeders' Cup odds here!

Big Brown Won the Monmouth Stakes

Big Brown captured the $500,000 Monmouth Stakes on Saturday in his final prep race for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Big Brown was challenged by Proudinsky the entire length of the stretch and won by a neck. This is Big Brown's seventh victory in eight starts.

Big Brown covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.20 in returning to the grass for the second time in his career. Unlike the romp in his first grass start, Big Brown was all out to win in his first race against older horses.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.20 as the 3-5 favorite in the field of nine. Proudinsky paid $3 and $2.40, while Shakis finished third and was worth $2.80 for show.

Big Brown Post Positions at Monmouth

Big Brown will run in the Monmouth Stakes on Sept. 13, his first start on grass since breaking his maiden at Saratoga last year, for preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Big Brown co-owner Michael Iavarone said the 1 1-8 mile race will serve as the final tune-up for the 3-year-old colt before the Classic, which will be held on a synthetic surface at Santa Anita on October 25.

Monmouth Stakes Details
Date: September 13th
Post Time: 4:52 EST
Location: Monmouth Park, New Jersey
Track: 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
Contenders: 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes
Purse: $500,000
Morning lines and horse betting odds will be posted shortly.

9th Race

Post # Horse                 Jockey 
1 Nightscape                 Flores E 
2 Hotstufanthensome          Lezcano J 
3 Shakis (IRE)               Bravo J 
4 Big Brown                  Desormeaux K J 
5 Kiss the Kid               Trujillo E 
6 Proudinsky (GER)           Dominguez R 
7 Drum Major                 Carmouche K 
8 Get Serious                Fragoso P 
9 Fagedaboudit Sal           Cotto P L Jr 
10 Ballonenostrikes          Centeno D E 
11 Silver Tree               Castro E