Lost in all the talk about Eight Belles and claims from many outsiders that the horse racing industry is brutal punishment to the thoroughbreds is the fact we have a real triple crown contender in Big Brown.

Many have compared him to last year's Triple Crown colt Curlin, who in my opinion is the best horse in the country right now. It is easy to see the comparisons though both horses are huge specimens and remarkable athletes. The biggest difference between the two though is the fact that there's no horse that is comparable to Street Sense or Hard Spun to challenge this year's Triple Crown hopeful.

The overpowering victory by Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs, in which he got a Beyer Speed Figure of 109, left no doubt as to his superiority over the current crop of 3-year-olds. He was so dominant that, as of Monday, just one of his beaten rivals in the Derby was even under consideration to challenge him again at Pimlico, according to DRF.com.

With so few Derby horses headed to Pimilico for the Preakness, it appears as if Big Brown is going to grab the second leg of the Triple Crown he will have to beat a fresh batch of horses.

"It just wasn't a strong Derby field other than our horse," said Big Brown's trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr.

"I don't think I'll be as confident," said Dutrow, who was extremely confident before the Derby. "I really do like training a horse up to a race, and I can't do it now. It looks like he's the best horse in the Preakness. I don't like coming back in two weeks, but I've got no choice."

I was scared off Big Brown in the Derby because of the fact he drew the #20 hole, but the run he made and the lack of fire from the other contenders, leaves me to think we have a great shot to have our first Triple Crown horse in 20 years.