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Big Brown's dominating Kentucky Derby (gr. I) win over the tragic heroine Eight Belles was so dominant, he almost literally took the other colts out of the picture, with third placed Denis of Cork, the next-nearest victim of the "Brown Out," 8 1/4 lengths adrift.

As stated in many publications, Big Brown's was an historic one, as he is the first horse to win the Derby with as few as three previous starts since Regret in 1915.

There is, however, another intriguing link between Big Brown's pedigree and Derby history. Big Brown is a TrueNicks A++ nick, but he has another important factor in his pedigree. His sire, Boundary, is out of Edge, and that mare is a three-quarters relative to Syrian Circle, third dam of Big Brown. The pair are both byDamascus, who started 8-5 favorite for the 1967 Kentucky Derby, but - upset by the crowds and the humid weather - could do no better than third. Their dams are by Round Table, who was one of the favorites for the 1957 "Run for the Roses," having broken the track record in the Blue Grass Stakes on his previous start, but who could also do no better than third.

So, Big Brown's triumph achieved a degree of redemption for his famous ancestors, who in combination are probably one of the principal reasons for Big Brown ‘s class, and ability to outstay his pedigree.

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