By Dan Israeli
In a stunning turn of events at the 140th Belmont Stakes, the heavily favored Big Brown - considered all but a lock to capture the final leg of the sport's elusive Triple Crown - finished dead last in the field of nine horses. Da'Tara - the race's biggest long shot, at 38-1 odds - won the race instead, and in dominating fashion, by 5 1/4 lengths.
Big Brown did make dubious history, becoming the first horse gunning for the Triple Crown to finish last in the Belmont. There was much speculation leading up to race day that the horse was still bothered by a quarter crack in his left front hoof. The media also criticized his outspoken trainer, Rick Dutrow, for using a legal steroid called Winstrol on Big Brown to promote weight gain and healing, which Dutrow claimed he stopped using in April. Whether the cracked hoof or the discontinued drug had anything to do with Big Brown's performance was the big question following the race.
"I can't say, with any certainty, whether or not it had an effect," Kent Desormeaux, Brown's jockey, said about the crack. "Whatever reason he wasn't resilient is shocking to me, because he's supposed to be a 1.5-mile horse," he added, referring to Belmont's distance, the sport's greatest test of endurance.
On the winning side, team Da'Tara celebrated an improbable victory that echoed the outcome of the 2004 Belmont. Da'Tara's trainer, Nick Zito, saddled Birdstone that year, which upset Triple Crown contender Smarty Jones, the last horse to go two for three in horse racing's American Classic series. For Zito, this win was just as sweet. "There's so many ups and downs in this sport," he said. "It was really great with Birdstone, but this win ranks up there with every race we've won. It ranks with the best."
Robert LaPenta, Da'Tara's owner, said his horse - a late addition to the Belmont - was underrated, and posted speed ratings that improved with each race. He credited his whole staff with leading the field's biggest underdog to victory. "We had a good plan, with good team players," LaPenta said. "We have a team that is second to none."
And then, of course, there was the horse that graced the winner's circle. "I've been coming to this race my whole life," LaPenta said. "I though Da'Tara had the race of his life today."
Zito didn't hesitate in saying that Big Brown was off his game. "Big Brown wasn't himself today," Zito said at the post-race press conference. "We salute him, and he's still a champion."
Desormeaux said that he knew by the 5/8 pole that the race was over. Added Zito, "At the half mile I was watching Big Brown, and he started to fade. I was jumping up and down like a jumping jack."
Despite missing out on a history-making finish, Desormeaux showed little emotion. "I think I'm numb, a little lost," he said. "Feeling no emotion whatsoever, blank. It would have been a life-changing experience, but now it's just back to life as usual."
Alan Garcia, Da'Tara's jockey, most recently won the Breeders Cup last fall. Both Zito and LaPenta said they felt fortunate to claim him as their jockey, because they consider him one of the top riders in New York. "He beat us in the Met Mile, so I figured I'd hang around this kid," said LaPenta. "And now, he did it for me."
Garcia was at a loss for words after the race. "I can't explain how I feel - it's too much," he said. "I'm so happy to be here."
Zito and LaPenta originally planned to enter another horse, War Pass, an undefeated colt that would have received more favorable odds than Da'Tara. But War Pass suffered a minor fracture in his left foreleg and was held out of the race, creating an opening for the eventual winner. "We wish we could have had War Pass with us today, but instead Da'Tara said he's going to do it for him," LaPenta said.
Big Brown's biggest competition leading up to the race, Casino Drive, was scratched early Saturday morning, increasing Brown's odds to 1-4. A Japanese colt, Casino Drive is 2-0 and has good lineage at the Belmont: his sister, Rags to Riches, won the race last year, while his half-brother, Jazil, won it in 2006.
The Triple Crown drought now spans 30 years. While Big Brown was about as big a favorite as they come, Desormeaux noted how difficult it must be to win all three races. "In the end, for me, I can't fathom what kind of freaks those 11 Triple Crown winners were," he said.
Zito, now a two-time spoiler at Belmont, said the victory was something to cherish. "In this game, you can't take anything for granted, and you have to thank your lucky stars," he said. "You have to play the game, and be thankful for the outcome."
Big Brown underwent a thorough examination after the race and again on Sunday, which owner Michael Iavarone said did not reveal any physical damage. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian at Belmont, said the horse showed no signs of breathing or pulmonary problems. Unless something shows up in further testing, Big Brown is scheduled to race in the Travers Stakes in August in Saratoga. His ownership team, International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Inc., has already sold his breeding rights for $50 million to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky. "I still think Big Brown has really enormous potential," said Zito.
Notwithstanding the withering heat and the favorite's disappointing performance, the day was still a huge success for the park, according to NYRA spokesman John Lee. On-track wagering totaled more than $13 million for the day's 13 races, making it the second biggest Belmont Stakes day since 2004. When outside simulcast bets were included, the grand total was over $99.8 million.
"It was a disappointing day for a lot of fans who wanted to see history," Lee said. "They'll have to wait for the next Triple Crown bid, which we hope everyone will come out for. It was still a great day for thoroughbred racing, and its looks like people were really enjoying themselves."
Comments about this story? DIsraeli@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 214.
