Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, tries to keep the Triple Crown hopeful under control as he crosses the finish line last in the 140th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Belmont, New York, yesterday. - AP

NEW YORK (AP):

BIG BROWN failed in his bid to become US horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner when he finished last behind Da' Tara in the Belmont Stakes yesterday.

Da' Tara led from the start to beat eight other thoroughbreds over 2,400 metres, the longest and toughest of the three classics.

"I had no horse," said Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux.

All week long, Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr. said the horse's victory was "a foregone conclusion".

The bay colt's disappointing performance followed convincing victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He failed on the same track where 10 horses had been beaten over the past three decades. The last horse to win the US thoroughbred Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.

Crack in left front hoof

Dutrow was second-guessed all week about his handling of a quarter crack in Big Brown's left front hoof, which surfaced after the Preakness and wasn't patched until Friday. He also came under scrutiny after admitting using legal steroids on Big Brown, even though the colt's last dose was in April.

Breaking from the inside post, Big Brown dropped back to second at the start and failed to respond when Desormeaux asked him to run in the last turn. At that point, Desormeaux eased him up.

The loss hit Desormeaux especially hard.

"This horse is the best I've ever ridden," he said. "Something's wrong, and I took care of him."

Desormeaux lost a 1998 Triple Crown bid by a nose on Real Quiet, and that ride was questioned throughout the business. Desormeaux struggled to get good horses and reach the same heights again.

Big Brown's path seemingly became easier when Casino Drive, considered to be his main rival, was withdrawn in the morning because of a bruised left hind hoof.