Betting on Big Brown to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic is a tough bet to make right now. One important factor remains to be determined before anyone should make that decision. That factor goes by the name of Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and defending Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion. If Curlin’s owners decide to run him again this year, Big Brown will have to beat one of the best horses we’ve seen in years.

Big Brown was able to beat an average field in the final stages of the Haskell Invitational, but did not look like the dominant horse we saw run the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. I would find it hard to believe that he could rally against a champion like Curlin. If Curlin does not race in the Classic (he may run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf) Big Brown’s chances will improve greatly.