Bodog Beat

After a victory at the Kentucky Derby, jockey Kent Desormeaux will climb aboard Big Brown at Preakness Stakes. (AI Wire photo)

With his victory in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby aboard Big Brown, jockey Kent Desormeaux added to an already impressive resume.

The Hall of Fame rider captured racings most sought after prize for the third time. The Louisiana native won the 1988 Derby with Real Quiet and took the 2000 edition aboard Fusaichi Pegasus. As talented as these colts were, Desormeaux has declared his current Triple Crown mount Big Brown the most impressive horse he has ever ridden. He has been aboard the Derby winner for three consecutive wins, including a five-length victory in the Gr. 1 Florida Derby leading up to his Kentucky Derby triumph.

The 38-year-old journeyman started his career in 1986 and won the Eclipse Award the following year as North America’s most outstanding apprentice rider. He migrated from the East Coast to California the following year and made an immediate impact on the West Coast racing scene by adding two more Eclipse Awards in 1989 and 1992. Desormeaux now holds the distinction of being one of only three riders to win the prestigious award as an apprentice and journeyman rider.

His instant success in California inevitably led to some attitude problems and the rider’s business eroded over the past several seasons. This led to a move back East and a fresh start. His textbook rides on superstar Big Brown have brought him back to the forefront of his sport, and his abundance of natural ability is once again on display.

Desormeaux will be no stranger to Pimlico when he climbs aboard Big Brown in the Preakness, having won the 1988 edition of the race with Real Quiet and is riding with the confidence to repeat the performance.

Racings comeback-kid led all North American riders for the week, ending May 6 with $1,451,800 and as of Tuesday, now has 4,970 wins to his credit. These totals are short odds to increase substantially when the Preakness Stakes becomes history next week.

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