Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's 'TDN Rising Star' The Big Beast (Yes It's True) exited his Oaklawn allowance victory Mar. 1 in good order and will make his next start in that venue's GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 9.
“It's all just turned out very, very good for us,” trainer Tony Dutrow said. “Those horses [in the allowance] made him run. I've got nothing but respect for those horses that tried him.”
Sunday's race was the first start for The Big Beast since his victory in Saratoga's GI King's Bishop S. Aug. 23. The hulking bay exited the race with an ankle chip and did not return to training until the fall.
Dutrow had been pointing his charge toward the Hot Springs S. Saturday, but preferred a fourth-level allowance Mar. 1.
The allowance did not go, but racing secretary Pat Pope adjusted the conditions and brought it back as an addition to the card.
“If we had no choice but to run in the stake, we would have,” Dutrow said. “But we really didn't want to ask the 'Beast' to run a superior race first time out in over six months.”
A troubled second in his Oaklawn debut last March, The Big Beast was third next out at Belmont after hitting the gate and enduring a very wide trip May 3. A decisive graduate in Elmont next out June 8, the bay was tabbed a Rising Star after an impressive allowance victory at the Spa July 26 prior to his success in the King's Bishop.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
