Big Brown on turf for final Haskell work

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown completed preparations for Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park by working three furlongs in 38.66 seconds over Aqueduct's turf course Friday morning.

With regular exercise rider Michele Nevin aboard, Big Brown was timed in fractions of 13.01 and 26.00 seconds.

Asked why he decided to work Big Brown on the turf, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said "just felt like doing it; no reasoning to it; went great."

Dutrow said he planned to ship Big Brown to Monmouth on Saturday. The Haskell will be Big Brown's first start since he was eased in the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown drew post 4 and has been installed as the 1-2 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field.