Big Brown has turned into a legend, and Rick Dutrow looks like a prophet.

The Florida Derby winner and betting favourite produced a dramatic stretch run to win the Kentucky Derby Saturday, overcoming a potentially disastrous post position to remain unbeaten in four career starts. And that way, Big Brown became the first horse to win America's greatest race from the 20th post since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. And it powered to the win before 157,770 fans, the second-largest attendance in Derby history.

Derby Day dawned cloudy and cool following heavy rain on Friday, but strong winds and abundant sunshine helped dry the main track. It was listed as sloppy for the first race, was quickly upgraded to good following the first race, and was listed as fast after the third race. The wind continued up through the Derby, providing a headwind down the homestretch and a tailwind on the backstretch.

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, by the fatal injury suffered by the filly Eight Belles, who finished a gallant second but then broke both front ankles galloping out after the finish. Her injuries were so serious that she had to be euthanized on the track, as she lay stricken near the six-furlong pole on the clubhouse turn.
Eight Belles was trained by Larry Jones, who on Friday won the Kentucky Oaks with Proud Spell, and she was owned by the Fox Hill Farms of Richard Porter.

Big Brown completed 1 1/4 miles on a fast main track in 2:01.82. Jockey Kent Desormeaux said the outside post posed no problems for his colt, noting that Big Brown worked his way over to the pack with ease.
"No distractions, no alterations in course, just slide over," Desormeaux said after his third Derby triumph. "And he did it so within himself.

"He truly was in a gallop to the quarter pole. That's his maximum cruising speed. That's how we were going and he added power to the stride when I needed it."

Denis of Cork rallied belatedly to finish third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Eight Belles. Tale of Ekati was fourth and was followed, in order, by Recapturetheglory, Colonel John, Anak Nakal Pyro, Cowboy Cal, Z Fortune, Smooth Air, Visionaire, Court Vision, Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Bob Black jack, Gayego, Bog Truck, Adriano and Monba.

Big Brown, the near 5-2 favourite, paid $6.80, $5 and $4.80 for a $2 ticket. Eight Belles returned $10.60 and $6.40, while Denis of Cork paid $11.60.

Big Brown had made just three lifetime starts, one last year and two this year, including the Florida Derby. He became the first horse to win the Derby with just three starts since Regret in 1915. Big Brown has now won all four of his starts, and now moves on to the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, at Pimlico on May 17 as the only horse capable this year of winning the Triple Crown. The Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes have been swept 11 times, but not since Affirmed in 1978. That 30-year drought is the longest since the Triple Crown was first won by Sir Barton in 1919.