Big Brown works five furlongs on dirt

Big Brown worked five furlongs in 1:04.21 over Aqueduct's main track on Tuesday morning. It was his first workout since winning the Monmouth Stakes on turf Sept. 13, and his first work on dirt since a post-Haskell half-mile breeze on Aug. 22.

Under regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was timed in fractions of 12.52, 25.46, 38.27 and 51.09 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:19.66.

The move, termed "breezing" by the Aqueduct clocker, was 24th-fastest of 32 at the distance over a fast track.

"We just needed him to get out there and stretch his legs a bit," said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, the colt's owner. Big Brown is trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.

"We were looking for a real easy move where Michelle didn't get after him for much, and that's what we got," said Iavarone. "We still have plenty of time until the Breeders' Cup to get his more serious preparation into him, and right now the main thing is keeping him fit and happy."

Kip Deville, preparing for a defense of his Breeders' Cup Mile title, worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.45, third-fastest of the morning.