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Big Brown: 'A Dream Come True'

Big Brown has caused quite a stir on the backside in the days before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), so much so that trainer Richard Dutrow decided the easiest way to handle the media was to host a daily question and answer session.

Derby Post Position Selection Order

Big Brown drew No. 16 at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) post position selection order Wednesday morning, meaning that the probable Derby favorite may have to break from the auxiliary gate when the field of 20 lines up for action May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Name Games: Origins of Derby Monikers

In our quest to discover the origins of names belonging to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders, we discovered a diamond mine, picked up some basketball lingo, learned Indonesian, and found out what brown can do for us. Here are the stories behind the names of a few runners going into this year's first Saturday in May.

Foaling Dates of Derby Contenders

Poet T.S. Eliot labeled April "cruelest month," but it is not a bad month on stud farms for foaling winners of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). In fact, over the last eight years, April foals have won three runnings of the Derby. February, the month that gives us both Groundhog Day and Presidents Day despite being the shortest month of the year, has been responsible for five winners.

HRTV's Target Louisville - 4/29 (Video)

HRTV's originally produced show on the Derby contenders. Big Brown arrives, Tale of Ekati works, Big Brown and Recapturetheglory gallop, a look at the Oaks entries, and an interview with Nick Zito - his thoughts on his two Derby contenders and the rest of the field.

Haskin's Derby Report: Early Thoughts

Well, Big Brown finally is here and the racing world had its first look at the likely Kentucky Derby favorite and its first encounter with his colorful trainer Rick Dutrow.

Lacy's Tickets Have Derby Connections

When Tony Lacy was signing sale tickets for yearlings last year, the Kentucky-based bloodstock agent and Four Star Sales consultant didn't know that two of the horses would distinguish themselves by having siblings running in this year's Kentucky Presented By Yum Brands (gr. I).

Dutrow Remains Confident

Ten years ago Rick Dutrow was living in a tack room at Aqueduct, determined to make it on his own in the racing industry. On the morning of April 28, he faced a room full of media members intent on covering the progress of his contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Morning Line: Super Tuesday

Trainer Nick Zito is holding court with a ring of media members outside his barn. The two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer has two starters for Saturday's running: Cool Coal Man and Anak Naktal. Zito is talking about the subject of the year: synthetic surfaces. We have a feeling he's not a big fan.

Brown In Town

Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Big Brown shipped into Churchill Downs April 28, exhibiting the same ease with which he earned his latest five-length victory.

The Man Who Had Big Brown

Surely trainer Pat Reynolds will be experiencing the feeling of "what could have been" when he watches the freakishly talented Big Brown run May 3 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) at Churchill Downs. Reynolds, 57, trained Big Brown early in his 2-year-old season.

Daily Derby Notes: April 24

Cool Coal Man Works; Big Brown Zips at Palm Meadows; Anak Nakal to work Friday.

Big Brown Sizzles in Five Furlong Work

Probable Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Big Brown turned in his final serious work April 24 at Palm Meadows training center, breezing five furlongs in :58 3/5 under exercise rider Michelle Nevin.

Kentucky Derby: Graded Stakes Earnings

The field for the 134th running of the $2-million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs is limited to 20 horses. Here is a look at graded stakes earnings for Kentucky Derby 134 nominees through April 23, 2008.

Ky Derby Trail: Questions and Quandaries

Another Kentucky Derby is upon us, and most of the talk has been about the inconsistencies and slow speed figures of this year's crop of 3-year-olds. Before we get into all the observations and analyses, and attempt to figure out this daffy Derby there is one point that must be addressed first.

IEAH Sponsors May 2 Legends Dinner

IEAH Stables, the owners of Kentucky Derby contenders Big Brown and Court Vision, will celebrate their trip to Louisville by sponsoring the Jockey Legends Dinner at the Executive West Hotel on Derby eve. The event is expected to replace the Mint Jubilee Gala on the social itineraries of retired jockeys and those riding in this year's Derby.

Big Brown Works for Kentucky Derby

Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Big Brown, likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 at Palm Meadows Friday with regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin aboard.

Big Brown Works, Will Ship to KY Apr. 28

Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Big Brown drilled five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 under regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin Saturday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Big Brown (3-1) Tops Final Derby Pool

Unbeaten Big Brown, the dominating winner of last week's Florida Derby (gr. I), took on the look of the ultimate favorite for the $2-million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when he finished as a solid 3-1 choice in the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2008 Derby Future Wager.

Big Brown No Big Deal As a Sale Horse

Undefeated Big Brown is a big deal on this year's Triple Crown trail following his March 29 Florida Derby (gr. I) triumph. But when he was younger, the strapping bay colt was overshadowed by horses with fancier pedigrees that sold for higher prices.

Big Brown Paces Derby Pool 3 at Midpoint

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.'s Big Brown, the unbeaten winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I), remained the top choice of Kentucky Derby fans as the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager reached its midway point April 4.

'Brown' Drawing Big Bandwagon

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Where have we seen this before? A modestly-bred Danzig-line horse, after leading throughout to score a devastating win in a grade I classic trial on his second start of the year, becomes a favorite for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Blog: Don't Crown Big Brown Just Yet

No denying, Big Brown's Florida Derby win was sensational. But let's not hand him the Derby so soon.

Big Brown Choice in Final 'Future' Pool

Unbeaten newcomer Big Brown, a dazzling five-length winner in his stakes debut in the $1-million Florida Derby (gr. I), has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the third and final pool for Churchill Downs' 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens its four-day run April 3.

Ky. Derby Trail: Hot Brown on Derby Menu

By now, just about every superlative has been used to describe Big Brown's performance in the Florida Derby (gr. I). How many times do you think the word "freak" has been uttered since Saturday? Well, there is no doubt that the colt has accomplished freakish things in his brief career, but so did Curlin, and he couldn't win the Derby off three career starts.

Big Brown Fine, Smooth Air to KY Derby

Despite suffering from a case of laryngitis and unable to speak much, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said that Florida Derby (gr. I) runaway winner Big Brown came out of the March 29 event in good shape.

Big Brown Huge in Florida Derby Rout

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.'s highly-touted Big Brown proved that all the hype was justified, as he led from start to finish in the $1-million Florida Derby, crushing 11 rivals to win by five lengths March 29 at Gulfstream Park while making just his third career start.

Twelve Drawn For Intriguing Fla. Derby

A full field of 12 was drawn for the March 29 Florida Derby (gr. I), which on paper has turned out to be the most intriguing prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) this year.

Unknowns Big Brown, Tomcito Set to Clash

Normally a grade I race like the Florida Derby would be pretty clear-cut, filled mostly with horses who have proven themselves. Not so this year; not with unknowns such as Big Brown and Tomcito, two of the most intriguing Triple Crown hopefuls seen in quite a while.

Dutrow's Big Weekend Includes Dubai

Rick Dutrow may be staying in the United States this weekend, but his runners in Dubai are not to be discounted. On March 29, Benny the Bull tackles the Golden Shaheen while Diamond Stripes aims for the Godolphin Mile.

Lezcano Takes Test Spin on Hey Byrn

Jose Lezcano took a test drive on Bea Oxenberg's 3-year-old Hey Byrn, expected to be one of the favorites in the Florida Derby (gr. I), during a five-furlong work at Calder Race Course the morning of March 22.

Elysium Fields, Big Brown Turn in Works

Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Elysium Fields and impressive allowance winner Big Brown turned in works this week in preparation for the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) March 29.

HRTV's Target Louisville - 3/13 (Video)

HRTV's originally produced weekly show on top Derby prospects and the road to the Triple Crown. This week's episode includes a detailed analysis of the Louisiana Derby, an Into Mischief update, and more on Big Brown, plus previews of the San Felipe, Rebel, and Tampa Bay Derby.

Florida Derby Picks Up Another Contender

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air became a prime contender for the $1-million Florida Derby (gr. I) March 29 at Gulfstream Park after working a mile March 9.

Ky. Derby Trail: Py in the Sky

On Saturday, in one corner of the country, the mighty Pyro once again crushed his foes, winning the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in grand style. On the same day, in the opposite corner of the country, a humbly-bred colt who sold for meager $1,000 as a yearling, Autism Awareness, mowed down his field to win the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III).

Big Brown Bursts Onto Derby Scene

With a big, lumbering move, IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa's 3-year-old Big Brown powered his way onto the stage as a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prospect and probable starter in the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) after winning an "off-the-turf" allowance race March 5 at Gulfstream Park.