Horse Racing Contenders - Big Brown

» Trainer: Richard Dutrow, Jr.
» Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
» Owner: IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., et al
» Breeder: Monticule

Big Brown is by Boundary, who made all eight of his starts in sprints, winning six times and recording Grade 3 wins in the A Phenomenon H. and the Roseben H.. Pensioned from stud duty in 2005, Boundary is represented by 22 black-type winners to date with his leading performers being Minardi and Pomeroy. The former, a Group 1 winner in England and Ireland as a two-year-old over six furlongs, was a disappointment when tried at a mile the following year, and Pomeroy is best known as a sprinter winning the King's Bishop S. (G1) and the Forego S. (G1), both over seven furlongs.

Boundary's other graded stakes winners are Straight Line, Roxelana, Lady Belsara, Saga Novel (in Japan) and Conserve, with the last named the only one ever to win at a distance beyond a mile -- and he was at his most effective going shorter. The Average Winning Distance of Boundary's offspring is 7.1 furlongs, and one of his few runners to achieve notable route success was Mocita, a multiple stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles and second in the Sabin H. (G3) going half a furlong further. It may be pointed out however, that Mocita is out of a mare by Halo and was receiving some stout South American stamina influences from her female family.

Big Brown's dam is Mien, who offers hope for the possibility of stamina being passed on since she won her second of just two starts over 1 1/16 miles. However, she is by Nureyev who, despite siring the likes of top-class 1 1/2-mile winners Theatrical (Ire) and Peintre Celebre, is best known for his milers such as Miesque, Spinning World and Zilzal. Miasma, Big Brown's second dam, won an allowance over nine furlongs and is by Lear Fan who, despite being a top-class miler has produced some top-class route runners, but invariably when matched with proven stamina influences. Casual Lies, the second-place finisher in the 1992 Kentucky Derby, is one example, being by Lear Fan and out of a mare by the Epsom Derby winner and stamina influence Blakeney.

With little significant stamina being introduced to Big Brown's pedigree from his female side, it seems unlikely that Boundary's limitations will be overcome to such an extent that Big Brown will be suited to a testing 10 furlongs.