Is Big Brown as good as Barbaro?

Those are the kind of accolades the upstart stallion is getting after running away with the Florida Derby on Mar. 29. Big Brown won by five lengths despite starting from the 12th post; in the previous four years at Gulfstream’s new main track, horses coming out of Posts 11 and 12 were a combined 0-for-29 at nine furlongs.

Barbaro won the Florida Derby from the 10-hole in 2006, then won the Kentucky Derby before breaking down at the Preakness. The comparison to Big Brown is inevitable, which is why it only took one career stakes race (plus a maiden and an allowance) to overtake Pyro and War Pass and become the 3-1 favorite in the third and final Derby Futures Pool.

Odds on the futures market were pending at press time, but Big Brown was outstanding during Saturday morning’s workout at Palm Meadows. Unless another horse comes out of the woodwork, he’s the one.