Hi: I just think Big Brown, is the greatest horse in my life time since Alysheba. Here is where he is scheduled to race his next race;
It looks as if Big Brown will be taking another ride down the Garden State Parkway.
IEAH Stables co-president Michael Iavarone said yesterday that the Kentucky Derby / Preakness winner probably will run Sept. 13 in a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes at Monmouth Park, where he won the 1 1/8-mile Haskell Invitational Aug. 3. It would be Big Brown’s first grass race since he dominated his career debut last year at Saratoga.
Iavarone said it was “75-25″ that Big Brown would race in the newly created Monmouth Stakes, with the 1 1/8-mile President’s Cup on grass the same day at Philadelphia Park having an outside chance. The Massapequa resident said the decision would be announced today.
If Big Brown goes to the Monmouth Stakes, its purse would be boosted from $200,000 to $500,000. To lure the 3-year-old superstar, Philadelphia Park management offered to raise the value of the President’s Cup from $250,000 to $1 million. Even so, IEAH is leaning toward returning to the Jersey Shore, mainly because Monmouth’s turf is in better condition.
“I’ve heard from various sources that we don’t want to run on the grass there [at Philadelphia Park],” Iavarone said. “Even though there’s a difference in money, I’d rather play it safe. I’d be very surprised if we don’t go to Monmouth.”
Pyro heads large Travers field. With Big Brown skipping Saturday’s $1-million Travers Stakes, a field of 12, the biggest since 13 ran in 1990, was entered for the 139th running of the 1 1/4-mile Midsummer Derby.
Macho Again will try to become the fourth consecutive horse to hit the Jim Dandy-Travers double, but he isn’t favored. Pyro, the Jim Dandy runner-up, is the 7-2 morning-line choice despite drawing post 11. Harlem Rocker (post 
is listed at 4-1 and Macho Again (post 5) is 5-1.
Steve Asmussen trains Pyro, who again will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan. “We were disappointed he didn’t win the Jim Dandy, but it was a good effort,” Asmussen said. “We’re going to lead him over with confidence.”
Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara, last in the Jim Dandy after a speed duel, is part of trainer Nick Zito’s uncoupled three-horse entry along with Cool Coal Man and Amped. Also in are Triple Crown also-rans Tale of Ekati, Colonel John, Court Vision and Tres Borrachos.
Todd Pletcher trains Harlem Rocker, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes on July 13 at Fort Erie in Canada. “I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of him yet,” Pletcher said. “It looks like a pretty wide-open race.”
Court Vision, co-owned by IEAH and Winstar Farm, drew the outside post. “I’d like to exchange it if I can,” Iavarone said. “I think it adds to the challenge. The key is [Kent Desormeaux] is going to have to find a tuck-in position going into the first turn or we’ll be caught pretty wide.
“He’s a closer anyway, so if we can save some ground, we should be OK.”
