Photo: Oaklawn Park
The connections of Brown Almighty have been planning their colt’s
dirt debut for months now and on Monday their wait will be over when the
colt makes his much anticipated start in the $150,000 Smarty Jones, the
first in a series of 3-year-olds races leading toward the April 13
Arkansas Derby and the Triple Crown races beyond. Trainer Tim Ice sent
the colt out for the finishing touches to his training Thursday.
“The workout went well,” said Ice. “He breezed 3/8s
and I had him around 36 and change. The Clockers had him 36 & 2
galloped out in 49, so it all went really well. He actually ended up
getting behind horses and getting more dirt kicked in his face. Overall,
I thought it was a great work, and it gave him a little more experience
with the dirt hitting him in the face. All systems are a go. I think
it’s very important, especially for young horses and for him more so
because he’s been racing on the turf and hasn’t had that kickback. So,
for him to get that in his face in the mornings, I think it’s going to
help him more in the afternoon just to be used to it, where he’ll run
through it and it doesn’t bother him.”
Brown Almighty was the first stakes winner for his sire Big Brown,
the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. And, like his sire, he
raced exclusively on turf as a juvenile. Now, the question will be can
he emulate Big Brown’s dirt success.
“You kind of put the pressure on yourself,” explained Ice. “As far as
everybody is concerned, if we’ve done our job, he’s going to go out and
do his. The expectations are high, but there’s no pressure.”
Also working Thursday in preparation for the Smarty Jones was Officer
Alex, who breezed five furlongs in 59 3/5, and Mr. Blackthorn, who
breezed three furlongs in 36 4/5.