BIG Brown’s fifth and newest stakeswinner Mighty Brownemerged as the first Kentucky Derby to appear in 2014 after his blazing win in the Pasco Stakes (1400m) in Florida overnight.
The Tim Ice trained 3YO raced handy but wide in the $100,000 feature staking his claim in the early part of the straight.
Soon after, Mighty Brown put paid to a concerted challenge from eventual runner-up Cool Cowboy streaking away to win by 3 1/4-lens. Cool Cowboy was comimng off a Listed win in the Inaugural Stakes last month.
The Pasco S. is the first of Tampa Bay’s stakes for 3-year-olds leading to the Kentucky Derby.
Following the Pasco will be the 1700m Sam F. Davis on February 1 which is the opening race of the Tampa Bay Downs Million Dollar Derby Bonus.
The owners of any horse that wins the $250,000 Davis, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8 and Kentucky Derby on May 3 will collect $1 million.
Mighty Brown’s Pasco triumph sees him become the fifth stakeswinner sired by Big Brown alongside Bella Castani. Shades Of Sugar, Brown Almighty and Coolmore’s Ballydoyle based US$1.3m Fasig Tipton 2013 Ready To Run sale topping colt, Darwin (Gr.3 winner).
Big Brown is also the sire of 7 stakes-placegetters led by first-crop son Apollo Sonic who was third in the Group 1 Japanese Derby mid-year.
And while Mighty Brown’s Florida win was on dirt, the majority of Big Brown’s stakeswinners so far have been on turf.
Big Brown’s oldest Australian-bred progeny are 2-year-olds and include last Friday’s impressive Randwick trial winner, Muscavado trained by Gai Waterhouse.
Muscovado drew the middle barrier of the 8-horse field but jumped fastest and quickly led in the 728m heat.
The filly was travelling like a winner from the moment the gates crashed back and held her advantage in the run to the line to beat stablemate Twirl with Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Sheer Style back in third.
Buyers attending this week’s sale on the Gold Coast will have plenty of opportunity to secure their own slice of Big Brown success with some 20-lots on offer.
