Big Brown failed to live up to the hype and the longest shot on the board, Da' Tara, lead wire to wire to win the Belmont in 2:29.3 earning a 99 Beyer figure. For whatever reason Big Brown didn't fire. What does this do to Big Brown's stud value and legacy? His stud value took a major hit. Instead of a Triple Crown winner, Big Brown is a dual Classic winner with major soundness issues. As impressive as his Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby wins were, there is still the lingering question as to whether this is a slow crop of 3yo. Big Brown's top figure of 109 is slower than War Pass's 110 earned in last year's BC Juvenile. Few of the colts in this year's crop have run triple digit Beyers (on the other hand what a crop of 3yo fillies - Zaftig earned a 113 in the Acorn with Indian Blessing getting a 104 in defeat). A Belmont victory would've allowed Big Brown to start his stud career at $250,000 a live foal. Now fair value is probably $100,000. He will not be able to raise his stud value much unless he is flawless the rest of the year. If he throws another clunker or two he is worth even less. Look for Big Brown to be retired. If he does continue to run I expect he'll stay in division, beating up on this slow 3yo crop. As for his legacy, right now he'd rank below Smarty Jones, who was faster and narrowly lost the Belmont. Point Given, Curlin, and Street Sense also had stronger 3yo seasons. Of course the year is not over yet.

Da' Tara's win in the Belmont Stakes marks the first win in an American Classic for the Goldolphin Arabian-Matchem sire line since 1937 (War Admiral). He is the first non-Darley Arabian-Eclipse sire line horse since Amberiod won the Belmont in 1966. The sire line represented by Da' Tara is one of the oldest and most important surviving American lines. It traces back to the importation of Australian in 1858. Australian's great grandson was the legendary Man o'War. The strand of the Matchem line that survives is through champion sprinter In Reality's two sons, Valid Appeal and Relauch. Current sires include Tiznow, Successful Appeal, Bertrando, Officer, Valid Expectations, Honour and Glory, Swiss Yodeler, Cee's Tizzy, and Put It Back. Most of these sires get sprinters, but Tiznow may be the exception. Da' Tara's win vaults Tiznow to #2 behind Smart Strike on the U.S. sires list.