Big Brown rebounds to capture Haskell Invitational

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/03/2008 - Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two months after finishing last in the Belmont Stakes, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown came from behind to win Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Big Brown was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the seven horse field.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown gave his backers a moment of anxiety when it appeared he was going to suffer his second straight defeat. After breaking sharply from the gate Big Brown relinquished the lead to Coal Play as the field headed into the clubhouse turn.

Coal Play, ridden by Joe Bravo, set the pace up the backstretch with Big Brown about a length back in second. Running in third was Atoned with Magical Forest fourth.

Around the final turn Coal Play remained on the lead as Big Brown, under urging from Desormeaux, offered no challenge. Magical Forest moved into third and Nistle's Crunch gained fourth.

In mid-stretch, the 41st Haskell seemed to belong to 20-1 longshot Coal Play. Big Brown was not able to cut into the lead. With about 100-yards to run Big Brown finally responded to Desormeaux and rallied to overtake Coal Play near the wire.

Big Brown hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Coal Play with Cool Coal Man, Coal Play's stablemate, finishing third. Alaazo, Nistle's Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest completed the order of finish.

The time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.31 on a fast track.

In spite of the less than impressive victory by Big Brown, the colt solidifies his position as the leading three-year-old of 2008. Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown lost his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 when he was eased down the stretch.

Trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., Big Brown collects $600,000 with the Haskell win and improves his career record to six victories in seven lifetime starts for better than $3.3 million.

It was the first Haskell win for both Dutrow and Desormeaux.

The colt's connections are keeping open the possibility of him running in the Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga.

Big Brown returned $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Coal Play paid $8.00 and $4.20, and Cool Coal Man paid $2.80 to show.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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