Questions Without Answers

Isn't it funny how we always need an explanation for unusual actions and we are so accustomed to having the media supply us with these answers? Well three days after the Belmont, there are still no answers, so the blaming begins because we are determined to discover a reason for Big Brown's poor performance.

First we have the jockey--and the trainer seems to be pointing the finger in his direction. Did Desormeaux do Big Brown a disservice by not giving him his head and letting him run? Did he pull him up to save face?

I actually think the answer to both these questions is "yes" but that is just my personal opinion based on gut not facts. And we may never know exactly what was going on with Big Brown or the jockey or the plan (was it possible that this was the fall back plan--pull him up if you aren't ahead?) or the heat or the lack of medication or anything else. Jeanine Edwards said something was "up" with the Big Brown camp the day of the race--they were not their jocular selves. And then there is that mysterious workout in which he ran the last quarter slower than the first--something you never want to see before a big race.

In the end, this speculation is actually pretty fruitless because until horses can talk, we'll never know.

But one thing I do know is that money talks--especially to these owners. In order for Iavarone to recoup the value of this horse--whose stud fee has dropped considerably after that last place finish--he has to race him again and win. If Big Brown doesn't win the Travers, he will never race again (which might be convenient because the Breeder's Cup is in California where steroids are banned). Even if he does, he might develop some mysterious ailment and retire to the stud barn while the getting is good.

So I do think the horse will run again--to earn his keep so to speak--unless there truly is something seriously wrong with him. So while others are busy calling for an investigation into the jockey's actions I'm actually looking forward to how Dutrow spins the next round--because I think there will be one.

One thing you can be sure of is that this group is determined to get the biggest return on their investment they possibly can.