• 05Nov

    Big Brown Settles in at Three Chimneys

    Big Brown at Three Chimneys
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    Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

    Big Brown Settles in at Three Chimneys

    By Amanda Duckworth
    Updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 6:58 PM
    Posted: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 5:10 PM

    On a delightful autumn afternoon, Big Brown contently stood for photos and surveyed his new home while fulfilling the role of guest of honor during Three Chimneys Farm’s open house for breeders Nov. 5.

    Big Brown, who arrived at the Midway, Ky., farm Nov. 1, will stand for $65,000. The 3-year-old Boundary colt, who counts the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) among his four grade I wins this year, took the crowd and the event in stride.

    “He’s settled in beautifully, and he has been received really well,” said Robert Clay, owner of Three Chimneys. “He’s an easy horse to be around and likes the attention. He’s got a great mind. I have gotten a lot of positive comments, and he is his best salesman.”

    The farm’s other stallions were also available for inspection, including Lewis Michael, who will also be standing his first season at stud in 2009. Lewis Michael’s full sister, champion Dreaming of Anna, was also retired this year and is boarded at Three Chimneys. Out of the Broad Brush mare Justenuffheart, they are both by Rahy, who stands at the farm. Lewis Michael’s fee is $12,500.

    “It is fun having Lewis Michael here with Dreaming of Anna across the street,” said Clay.

    Held during the third day of the Keeneland November mixed sale, an estimated 300-400 people stopped by to look at the stallions and to take part in the “Big Brown Bag Lunch” that was provided. Bloomingdale’s supplied its “re-usable brown bag” for the event.

    “We figured if Big Brown is his best salesman, let’s catch people when they are in town,” said Clay. “We had an incredible turnout. There just weren’t quite enough Big Brown bags at the end of the day.”

  • 05Nov
    Breeders give Big Brown a thumbs up

    Big Brown
    Big Brown

    By Glenye Cain Oakford Posted 7:57 pmLike many people this year, breeders are feeling the economic pinch, as evidenced by the heavy losses at the ongoing Keeneland November breeding stock sale. But that didn’t stop 300 to 400 people from stopping by Wednesday to look at one of the pricier, and accomplished, new sires for 2009: Big Brown, who enters stud this year with a $65,000 fee.

  • 24Aug

    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;

    Big Brown appears headed to Monmouth Stakes

    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 8) 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.”

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