Even though Big Brown’s trainer, Rick Dutrow, is denying that steroids (or a lack thereof) played a role in the colt’s monumental loss at the 2008 Belmont Stakes last Saturday, he’s putting the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner back on the juice.

“He doesn’t need any drugs; the Winstrol had nothing to do with it,” Dutrow said.

Still, Big Brown is expected to get a shot of the stuff this weekend and is expected to start training next week for his next race, the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23, before he eventually makes his appearance at the Breeders’ Cup.

Steroid use is legal in 28 U.S. States but the National Thoroughbred Racing Association is looking to ban steroids from all racetracks by next year.

Does Dutrow still blame Big Brown’s jockey for the huge loss?

Both trainer and jockey met on Wednesday, the first meeting since Saturday’s loss at Belmont Park. Dutrow told ESPN that they’re “back on target” and that “I just feel better because he came by to talk about the Belmont ride.”

That’s a far cry from what he had to say about jockey Kent Desormeaux earlier this week. Obviously still dumbfounded by what transpired at the Belmont Stakes, Dutrow said: “I’m sure Big Brown didn’t have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way Desormeaux was switching him all over the damn track.”