NEWS
Nevin keeps Big Brown moving forward
Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 4:22 PM
EXERCISE RIDER MICHELLE NEVIN
AND BIG BROWN
Nancy Rokos photo
by Frank Angst
When it comes to handling dual classic winner Big Brown on the racetrack, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. trusts Michelle Nevin.
While the 30-year-old seems to have a slight build compared to many of the muscular exercise jockeys that populate North American racetracks, she has plenty of strength and horsemanship to handle racing’s current biggest star.
After an eager Big Brown charged through three furlongs in a swift :35.20 on Tuesday morning, Nevin deftly slowed down the dual classic winner. He completed the five-furlong breeze at 1:00.03, well within the target range set by Dutrow on the previous day.
“Michelle did a nice job of gathering him up,” said Michael Iavarone, co-president of Big Brown’s majority owner IEAH Stables. “I’m glad Michelle is getting some attention because she is as important to this operation as anyone involved.”
Originally from County Tipperary, Ireland, Nevin has worked for Dutrow for more than six years. Her blonde hair stands out on the track when she exercises the stable star in the mornings at Belmont Park. She knew what to expect on Tuesday.
“I knew he was going to be ready for this today so I didn’t want to do too much,” Nevin said. “I was just sitting back on him.”
Dutrow said Nevin has done a better job of handling the horse in workouts than jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has guided the Boundary colt to four wins this year.
“The only two times I’ve ever seen this colt have bad workouts is when Kent is up. That’s why I didn’t go with Kent. The horse was a mess with him,” Dutrow said. “It has just been unbelievable every time in the mornings, except for the times Kent breezed the horse.”
On Tuesday, Nevin again proved up to the task. Exercising with Big Brown every day, she has come to appreciate the colt’s intelligence.
“We’ve come to an agreement of, ‘I won’t bother you if you don’t bother me,’ ” Nevin said. “I don’t do much more than just sit there because he knows what to do.”
After Tuesday’s breeze, the final serious workout planned for Big Brown before the Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday, Nevin relaxed in the stable area, joked with Iavarone, and enjoyed a cigarette. She confessed to being nervous before the breeze.
“Today, there was a bit of pressure because we didn’t want to leave his race on the track,” Nevin said. “He was eager and happy.”
Frank Angst is Thoroughbred Times senior writer
