Da’ Tara WINS the Belmont Stakes

Baby Boomers for just a few minutes it is the most exciting sports even of the year. However this year might have been the exception.

Big Brown, the favorite, straggled home last Saturday, losing the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown to 38~1 long shot Da’ Tara takes the Belmont as a 38~1 long short.

Big Brown the favorite came in last. Many say due to a split hoof.

Da’ Tara went wire to wire, with 1~4 favorite Big Brown running third most of the way until jockey Kent Desormeaux asked him for one of his explosive runs on the far turn.Big Brown straggled home last Saturday, losing the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown to 38~1 long shot Da’ Tara takes the Belmont as a 38~1 long short.

Big Brown the favorite came in last. Many say due to a split hoof.

Da’ Tara went wire to wire, with 1~4 favorite Big Brown running third most of the way until jockey Kent Desormeaux asked him for one of his explosive runs on the far turn.

Big Brown was eased up before he even finished the 1½ miles, the longest and toughest of the three classics.

Instead of Big Brown becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and first in 30 years, he was the first of 19 horses going for a Triple to finish last.

With a last~place finish, Big Brown earned the dubious distinction of the worst Belmont Stakes finish for a horse that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Horse Year Finish

Big Brown~2008~9th
War Emblem~2002~8th
Carry Back~1961~7th
Alysheba~1987~4th
Canonero II~1971~4th
Kauai King~1966~4th

Da’ Tara and jockey Alan Garcia sprinted to the lead out of the gate. Big Brown, eager in the early going, ran up on Da’ Tara’s heels heading into the first turn, the first indication it wasn’t going to be his coronation day.

Da’ Tara had the lead down the backstretch, with Tale of Ekati in second and Big Brown running third on the outside with a clear path. This was Big Brown’s moment, and Desormeaux asked him to go. He didn’t respond.

“He was empty. He didn’t have anything left,” Desormeaux said.

Da’ Tara opened up a clear lead turning for home, while Big Brown angled to the far outside under restraint. Big Brown still wanted to run, but Desormeaux knew it was over and focused on getting the colt home safely.

Big Brown was running on a quarter crack in his left front hoof that wasn’t patched until Friday. Even as the horse was making his way to the starting gate, Dutrow said the crack was a “non-issue.” Well I can tel you right now that if my feet are hurting, I would not be running in the Tripple Crown. His trainer and owner made the decision to run him and they lost that bet…they are lucky they did not lose the horse. The Peta People will have a field day with this!

Da’ Tara, the longest shot on the board, won the Belmont Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths.

Da’ Tara, the longest shot on the board, won by a whopping 5 1/4 lengths over Denis of Cork and covered the distance in 2:29.65. There was a dead heat for third between Anak Nakal and Ready’s Echo. Macho Again was fifth, followed by Tale of Ekati, Guadalcanal, Icabad Crane and Big Brown.

Da’ Tara paid $79, $28 and $14.80. Denis of Cork returned $5.80 and $4.10. Anak Nakal paid $7.60 and Ready’s Echo returned $6.20.

Zito spoiled a Triple Crown bid four years ago when he saddled Birdstone to an upset of Smarty Jones. He also trained Anak Nakal.

While the thousands of fans jammed along the rail focused on Big Brown, Da’ Tara pressed on to the finish line, obviously tired but with a true triumphant run.

What a race…Baby Boomers, I hope all of you had your derby hats on!
~The Baby Boomer Queen

Sourses: ESPN
Photo: AP Photo/Rob Carr