Haskell next up on Big Brown's schedule

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - The Daily Racing Form is reporting on its website that leading three-year-old Big Brown will make his next start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday, August 3.

"The Haskell's clearly a first target right now," said Michael Iavarone, who heads the International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH) Inc. stable that owns 75-percent of Big Brown.

The 1 1/8 mile Haskell would be the first race for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner after his disappointing last place finish in the Belmont Stakes. In the Belmont jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled up Big Brown at the top of the stretch and jogged to the finish.

"We're trying to avoid certain things that happened in the Belmont Stakes," Iavarone said. "We're trying to avoid the heat; it's a lot more hot and humid (at Saratoga), it's a lot cooler down by the Jersey Shore. More importantly is the surface. It's a lot tighter racetrack, more conducive to his style."

Original plans by Iavarone and trainer Rick Dutorw, Jr. had Big Brown going in the Travers at Saratoga the end of August and finishing his racing career with the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, October 25 at Santa Anita.

Big Brown won his first five starts before failing to claim the Triple Crown in the Belmont. Iavarone and Dutrow still have no reason for the colt's poor performance in the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

Iavarone says Big Brown is fine and is training at Aqueduct. Iavarone is also not ruling out a start in the Travers on Saturday, August 23.

"I don't rule out anything," he said.