Big Brown powers to Kentucky Derby win

By Steve Ginsburg

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - Big Brown produced a dramatic stretch run to win the Kentucky Derby Saturday, overcoming a potentially disastrous post position to remain unbeaten in four career starts.

The Florida Derby winner and betting favorite became the first horse to win America's greatest race from the 20th post since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

Big Brown, the Kentucky-bred son of Boundary, moved around the first turn four wide but galloped nicely as he stalked the leaders. He was sixth at the far turn but at the top of the stretch exploded past the field for an easy win.

"When he turned for home, I knew the game was over," said trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. "We were going crazy. Turning for home, you could see no one was going to catch him."

Big Brown's 4 3/4-length triumph was tempered, however, when runner-up Eight Belles, the only filly in the race, broke both ankles and had to be euthanized soon after passing the winning post.

"After we passed the wire I stood up," said Eight Belles jockey Gabriel Saez. "She started galloping funny and I tried to pull her up. But she went down."

"She went out like a champion," trainer Larry Jones said, choking back tears. "Losing animals like this isn't fun. It's not supposed to happen."

Big Brown became the first horse since 1915 to win the Derby with only three previous races behind him and silenced talk that the 20th post is the graveyard for Derby hopefuls.  Continued...