Friday, September 05, 2008

BIG BROWN HEADS LIST OF 35 NOMS FOR SEPT. 13 MONMOUTH STAKES

Kentucky Derby and Haskell Invitational winner Big Brown tops a list of 35 nominations for the Monmouth Stakes, a mile and an eighth turf test to be contested at Monmouth Park on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Big Brown will be making just his second career start on turf in the Monmouth Stakes, having broken his maiden on the grass at Saratoga in his debut on Sept. 3, 2007. Following that maiden score, a majority interest in the colt by Boundary from the Nureyev mare Mien was purchased by IEAH Stables. Big Brown races for IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin, Andrew Cohen and Pegasus Holdings Group.


Big Brown made his second start on March 5, 2008, scoring in an off the turf entry-level allowance contest at Gulfstream Park. He followed that up with a five-length win in the Florida Derby and then his victory in the Kentucky Derby. After taking the Preakness, Big Brown’s bid for the Triple Crown fell short when he was eased nearing the quarter pole in the Belmont Stakes. He bounced back from that effort with a nearly two-length score in the Haskell, Monmouth Park’s signature race, on Aug. 3.
Stabled at Aqueduct, Big Brown sports a trio of workouts since his Haskell score, most recently breezing six furlongs on firm turf on Sept. 3 in 1:15 3/5.
As part of the condition of the race for the Monmouth Stakes the $200,000 purse will increase to $500,000 should the 2008 Kentucky Derby winner (Big Brown) start in the event.
The nominations, excluding late mail, for the Monmouth Stakes are:

Ballonenostrikes Operation Red Dawn
Barcola Out of Control
Big Brown Pleasant Strike
Call My Bluff Proudinsky
Distorted Reality R J’s Brigade
Dr Rico Red Rocks
Drum Major Ruff and Ready
Fagedaboudit Sal Salinja
Get Serious Saratoga Saint
Hotstufanthensome Shake the Bank
Hunting Print Shakis
Icy Atlantic Silver Tree
Independent George Star Plus
Kiss the Kid Victory Alleged
Little Dovefeather War Monger
Minister’s Joy Wesley
Nergal Xela
Nightscape

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