If you watched any TV on Sunday, I sure hope it was the Haskell Stakes. You saw many things in a rapid fire race take place.

The field was not Big Brown’s toughest to date and had only two graded winners in the starting gate with him. He broke like a champ, and with the well guided hand of a conductor, he put himself about two off of the rail. He was not going to get boxed today. It wasn’t going to be that simple. You were going to beat him the old fashioned way.

The bridge jumpers were lined up along the rail, and showed what a short memory they have. They backed this runner with both hands, and looked to get that nickle on the dollar. Try that on Wall Street in such a brief time. Kent Desormeaux had to get Brown down on his belly, and get juice that makes champions run. He rounded for home and a rapid pace was ensuing.  Coal Play was comfortable, and Nick Zito looked like he had the big boy’s number again.  With a quarter of a mile to go, Kent D went to the whip and this was something we never would have thought. This was Big Brown, and he should inhale this field. But when the whip struck and he didn’t immediately fire up and take flight, I began to wonder. The final eighth of a mile showed me what a gutty runner looks like. He was wide as if he was looking for the magic part of the track, and boy did he find it at the right time.

The B.B. Express rolled up on the leader, and went right on past. This pleased everyone except Nick Zito as he was poised to play spoiler again.  But before you nitpick any of the race, remember that this was his first race back. Was he ready? Did he have all of those ailments back?  Would we see the Belmont again? The answer was no… He is back. Simply put. Welcome back Big Brown.  All of the talk, and the hullabaloo about why you didn’t fire on one day is over. Welcome back my boy. The fickle media will gladly have you back, and so will the fans. Whatever the future, you have lived up to the words of a great writer.  “Anyone can come up, get lucky, right place at the right time.  But to comeback shows what you are really made of.  It’s all about the comeback.”  Welcome back…