by Jeff Lowe

Jockey Kent Desormeaux has anointed Big Brown the most talented horse he has ever ridden, but he has a painful memory to remind him that a dominant Kentucky Derby (G1) victory does not assure success in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Desormeaux, speaking to reporters in the Pimlico Race Course press box on Friday morning, said he was sitting "heavy in his chair" based on his experience with Fusaichi Pegasus finishing second to Red Bullet in the 2000 Preakness.

At 3-to-10 odds, Fusaichi Pegasus joined 1972 Derby winner Riva Ridge as the lowest-priced favorites to lose the Preakness over the last 90 years.

"It was by far one of the races that I thought couldn't lose," Desormeaux said. "I thought he was destined to win the Triple Crown. I went from the third-fastest Kentucky Derby to the third-slowest Preakness, and got beat. How? I still don't know. The horse just went for a gallop. I was done 50 feet out of the gate. I had no horse and it was actually the first time I ever spanked him."

Desormeaux scored a clear win in the 1998 Preakness with his other Derby winner, Real Quiet, who was the 2.50-to-1 second choice in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Victory Gallop, the 2-to-1 favorite, finished second. Three weeks later, Victory Gallop came back to spoil their Triple Crown bid, edging Real Quiet by a nose in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

"You gotta know what freaks [the 11 Triple Crown winners] were to be able to do what they did, to come back in two weeks and win the Preakness and then three weeks later to win the Belmont," Desormeaux said. "What resilience they must have had.

“I never felt a horse win so easy [as Fusaichi Pegasus in the Derby]. He came here and just went for a gallop. He is what reminds me that they still have to run tomorrow and there is no guarantee. The only guarantee I can give is that he is the fastest and most talented horse I've ridden. Will he show up tomorrow? That's what is so exciting about tomorrow."

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer