Big Brown takes Preakness Stakes

Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown won the 133rd Preakness Stakes on Saturday to keep alive his chances of becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.

Trained by Rick Dutrow Jr and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the colt blew away his 11 rivals at Pimlico Race Course.

Big Brown will now head to the Belmont Stakes on 7 June with the chance to become the 12th horse to capture US flat racing's coveted Triple Crown.

The last horse to accomplish the feat was Affirmed in 1978.

Big Brown finished five lengths ahead of Macho Again, with Icabad Crane in third.

"It was almost like the Kentucky Derby. He just set sail," said jockey Desormeaux.

"He just keeps on getting better," added the winning trainer.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
BBC Liverpool's Grand National coverage
Have your say on 606
Racing weather
Latest results
British Horseracing Authority
Horseracing Ireland
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites