Imagine the Boston Celtics, led by Rajon Rondo, facing the Los Angeles Lakers and team captain Jordan Farmar.

This is what the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing is all about. Because those three races are limited to 3-year-olds, we don’t get to see the best horses go head-to-head. Instead, we’re waiting for Oct. 25 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see Big Brown and 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin square off.

How lucky? The horse racing futures market has posted odds of +275 that Big Brown and Curlin will race against each other in 2008. It’s a blessing that we even get to see Curlin race as a 4-year-old. Every time he steps onto the track, he risks losing potentially enormous stud fees. For Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow, the risk of running the Classic is even greater: Curlin is –200 to finish in front of Big Brown should they race.