Big Brown, Triple Crown.
Sounds historically significant, doesn’t it?
Even for bandwagon horse racing fans, it recalls memories of Affirmed, Seattle Slew, Secretariat, and even Citation for older folks.
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes figures to be a beauty, as reigning Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Big Brown goes for the Triple Crown.
Whether or not you like horse racing, anybody with an appreciation of the history of sports will tune in to the Belmont. It could be the sport’s biggest race in 30 years.
Big Brown (5-0 career) is looking to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, when Affirmed outdueled archrival Alydar to become the third Triple Crown champion in five years.
Great horses spoiled us in the 1970s. Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973 — the first since Citation in 1948 — and Seattle Slew and Affirmed matched the feat in 1977 and 1978.
It hasn’t been done since, but Smarty Jones in 2004 had the same opportunity as Big Brown heading into the Belmont. Birdstone upset the previously undefeated Smarty Jones before a crowd of more than 120,000. An even bigger gathering is expected Saturday.
For Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., it is a “foregone conclusion” that his horse, despite suffering an injury to his left front hoof, will become the 12th Triple Crown winner. Dutrow made that comment during last week’s pre-Belmont conference call, and added: “To me, I just see the horses he’s in with and I see our horse, so I expect him to win this race.
“I know that when that day actually does come, and if our horse is in good shape, it will be the most exciting, thrilling moment of my life. I know that that’s coming.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
SHOOTING FOR A SPOT
Golfers converge on Columbine.
Twenty-eight golfers will play for two U.S. Open Championship spots in today’s U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Columbine Country Club.
The qualifier, one of 13 across the country, will include Dustin White, right, and Michael Zaremba of Pueblo; John Hayes of Littleton; and Charles Soule of Denver.
The event is conducted by the Colorado Golf Association.
The U.S. Open will be held next week at Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego.
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Will Red Wings hoist the Cup?
The NHL season could end tonight with a Detroit victory in Hockeytown. The Red Wings, who lead Pittsburgh 3-1, host the Penguins in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena. Watch it unfold beginning at 6 p.m. (KUSA-9).
If the Pens survive, Game 6 will be Wednesday in Pittsburgh (6 p.m., KUSA-9).
Either way, it appears that Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom will become the first European-born player to captain a team to the Stanley Cup. The Swede is playing for his fourth NHL crown, but first with the “C” on his sweater.
MARQUEE NBA FINALS
Lakers-Celtics start Thursday.
The NBA’s greatest rivalry heats up in the Finals for the first time since 1987, when Los Angeles won in six games.
Kobe Bryant learned this season there’s no K-O-B or I in “team,” and the Lakers rolled through the mighty Western Conference. The Celtics, who won a league-high 66 games during the regular season, have lost only once at home in the playoffs and have home-court advantage now.
The best-of-seven goes to a 2-3-2 format, with the first two games in Boston on Thursday and Sunday. All games are on KMGH-7.
ROUGHED-UP ROX
Tough life on the road.
The not-so- lovable losers that are the Colorado Rockies begin a three-game series tonight at the Los Angeles Dodgers. This could get (more) ugly.
The Rox have lost seven straight games overall, and 12 in a row and 18 of their past 20 on the road. Can it get any worse before the worst team in baseball (at 20-37) returns home to begin a series against Milwaukee on Friday?
BEASTS OF THE EAST
Rays visit Boston for key series.
The red-hot (no longer Devil) Rays of Tampa Bay are the surprise of Major League Baseball, sporting the best record in the American League.
The Rays, who dropped the “Devil” from their name during the offseason, take a 35-22 record into Boston to begin a three-game series against the Red Sox in a battle between the AL’s top two teams.
The defending World Series champions are 35-24, including 21-5 at Fenway Park.
It should be a dandy in Beantown.
BIG RACE AT CNS
150-lapper on tap.
Colorado National Speedway hosts one of its two longest races Saturday. The NAPA 150 is a NASCAR Camping World Series (formerly West Series) event, and a handful of CNS’ late-models regulars are expected to compete.
