By BILL FINLEY
OCEANPORT, N.J. — A new Big Brown showed up Sunday at the Jersey Shore. He was neither the brilliant animal that toyed with his challengers in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes nor was he the one that bombed in the Belmont Stakes. This was a Big Brown that had just enough in his tank to grind out a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over the 20-1 shot Coal Play in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
It was a successful return to the races for Big Brown, but not necessarily an overwhelming one.
Coal Play, who was ridden hard from the gate by Joe Bravo to get to the early lead, was pulling away from Big Brown on the far turn. Big Brown was already under a vigorous ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux and was going nowhere. But Big Brown found another gear inside the final furlong and managed to pass Coal Play inside the final 50 yards. While doing so, he was bearing out throughout the stretch, often a sign that a horse is tired or in distress.
Big Brown Is Successful, but Not Overpowering, in His Return to Racing....
