Big Brown looking very shiny and very happy.

According to Big Brown’s trainer, Rick Dutrow, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner looks as good as ever going into Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. (At press time, Big Brown is the 1-2 favorite.)

“From what happened in his last start, it’s kind of hard for me to feel as confident as I was for the Derby, but I feel as confident as I can be that he’s going to go out there and run his race,” Dutrow said. “Except for his last start, he’s done everything that you would want a horse to do.”

Big Brown’s last start was the Belmont Stakes. The celebrated colt was guaranteed to win (by Dutrow) but ended up placing dead last. Going into Sunday’s race, Big Brown doesn’t appear to be suffering from any kind of injury — no cracked hoof — and he looks happy.

“If everything goes perfect, I’d like to breeze him on Friday (at Aqueduct) and ship down to Monmouth on Saturday,” Dutrow said. “He looks amazing. He’s shiny, he’s happy. He looks as good as he always has.”

Following this weekend’s Haskell Invitational is another huge goal: the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Big Brown had his fourth workout last week since finishing last the Belmont Stakes. He ran five furlongs in 59 1/5 and looked fit in preparation for the 141st Haskell Invitational on August 3rd. He worked out with an older horse named True Dancer and blew pass him in workout, looking to be back in the form we saw in the first two jewels of the Triple Crown.

“He worked awesome” said owner Michael Iavarone. “Michelle broke him a length behind True Dancer. She said she drafted him in behind him True Dancer and he sat there nice and quiet. When she took him to the outside at the three-eighths pole he absolutely blew by the other horse (by five lengths), and she couldn’t even pull him up after the work. We’re over the moon. He’s right on course and hasn’t missed a beat. The 3rd can’t come soon enough.”

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Curlin had his debut on the turf surface at the Man O’War Stakes, but he fell short in his late drive and finished second to 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf Champion Red Rocks. It was Curlin’s first loss in six starts, but his good showing should be enough for trainer Steve Asmussen to continue to prepare him for the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at Longschamps Racecourse in Paris on Sunday, October 5.

Curlin should rebound from the loss without any problems. He finished second in his first attempt on the turf, and once he gets used to the surface he should be dominant again. Placing in the Man O’War should not be looked at as a loss, just a stepping stone towards mastering the turf. If Curlin has shown anything, it’s that he has stamina and longevity. One second-place finish on a new surface does not mean he’s done.

Get all your Breeders’ Cup odds here.

The Breeders’ Cup has increased the number of graded stakes races where a winning horse gets automatic entry into the corresponding Breeders’ Cup Race. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a list of sanctioned races where the horses get an undisputed chance for entry into the $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held October 24-25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., which will be televised live on ESPN and ABC.

Previously, horses were chosen for the Breeders’ Cup based on a point system earned in graded stakes races throughout the year, and via selection by racing experts. They have added four more races to the list from last season, bringing the total to 17 races with “win and you’re in” opportunities. Added are the Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park, Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar, Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) at Turfway Park, and Tiznow Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Curlin (shown here) is headed to Paris; will Big Brown join him?

As soon as Big Brown finished last at the Belmont Stakes, the attention of horse racing fans turned to the Breeders’ Cup and a potential showdown with Curlin. But that dream matchup fizzled when Curlin trainer Steve Asmussen said he was contemplating moving the 2007 Eclipse winner onto turf for a crack at the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The futures market has responded by posting odds of –350 that the two thoroughbreds will not race each other in 2008. Still, the allure of a potential Big Brown-Curlin matchup is too potent to pass up for some observers. ESPN’s Bill Finley has an interesting solution: Send Big Brown to Paris.

Finley makes some sense. Big Brown’s reputation took a major hit at the Belmont, loose shoe or not. Beating Curlin on grass at one of the most important events in Europe would restore that reputation – not to mention make a whole pile of money.