Horse racing odds: Big Brown headed for Haskell

After originally aiming their horse for the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes, Big Brown's handlers now have said the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will run instead at the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3.

That's not to say that New York officials are giving up hope of Big Brown then running 20 days later at the Travers at Saratoga.

New York Racing Association officials said at a news conference Monday that it's possible Big Brown can appear in the Travers if he runs well in the Haskell. Many horses that do well in the Haskell make the trip to Saratoga for the Travers.

"If he does run in the Haskell and wins, I think it is feasible that he comes back in the Travers," said P.J. Campo, is NYRA's vice president and director of racing. "It's a big race for the connections, a prestigious race, and I think it means a lot to him when he goes out to stud."

Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, has always favored the Travers, but the final decision is up to the owners, who seem dead-set against that race.

Minority owner Paul Pompa Jr. said last week that the Travers "would not be the move at all."

Co-owner Michael Iavarone said he chose the Haskell over the Travers mainly for the timing."The Haskell makes a lot of sense for us," he said. "Timing-wise, running there will give us the opportunity to get one more prep in before the Breeders' Cup Classic. Spacing the races this way makes the most sense."

The nine-furlong Haskell is expected to serve as a stepping stone to Big Brown's ultimate objective, the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

"We're ecstatic to see that Big Brown plans on running in the Haskell," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "He's a tremendous horse with a ton of talent."

NYRA president and chief executive officer Charles Hayward said if Big Brown doesn't make the Travers, he's still hopeful the colt can run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.

Campo mentioned Da' Tara and Denis of Cork, who finished 1-2 in the Belmont Stakes, as probable starters in the Travers. Another possible entry is Macho Again, who was second to Big Brown in the Preakness before coming in fifth at the Belmont.

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