Sat May 17 18:28:35 2008

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Big Brown a step away from Triple Crown

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Big Brown pulled away down the stretch to win the 133rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and is now one step away from becoming the first horse since 1978 to capture the Triple Crown.

Big Brown passed Gayego and Riley Tucker at the top of the stretch and pulled away to remain unbeaten in five career races. Macho Again was second and Icabad Crane was third.

Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, will have a chance to win the Triple Crown if he can capture the Belmont Stakes in New York in three weeks. There have been 12 Triple Crown winners, with the last being Affirmed in 1978.

Big Brown, who went off as a heavy favorite, is the first horse since Smarty Jones in 2004 to win both the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. Two weeks ago, the three-year-old cruised to victory at the Kentucky Derby.

Desormeaux won the 1998 Preakness aboard Real Quiet.

More to follow...