Big Brown breezes five furlongs for Derby

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Early Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown worked five furlongs in 1:00.75 at Palm Meadows on Friday, his second breeze since winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29.

With regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin aboard, Big Brown came out on the track shortly after dawn and went along without any encouragement, posting fractions of 12.39, 24.72, 36.79 and 48.58, according to Daily Racing Form. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.31.

"It was beautiful," said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. "Everything couldnt be better."

Dutrow said that if all goes according to plan, Big Brown will work once more at Palm Meadows on April 24, fly to Louisville on April 28, and have one easy three-furlong work at Churchill Downs two days before the May 3 Derby.