Big Brown's handlers search for answers

ELMONT, New York (Reuters) - Big Brown's connections were unable to determine on Sunday why the Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion came up empty in the Belmont Stakes.

The previously undefeated son of Boundary became the first horse to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown and finish last in the Belmont.

"We went over him last night after the race, and again this morning, and there's nothing physically that's shown up," IEAH Stables' owner Michael Iavarone told Belmont officials.

"I'm as confused as anybody. The only thing we're resorting to right now is the track might have been too deep for him and he didn't like it out there."

With nearly 95,000 at Belmont Park hoping to see the first Triple Crown since 1978, Big Brown ran out of gas entering the final turn of Saturday's mile-and-a-half (2400m) race and was pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The colt's handlers said a quarter crack on his left front hoof appeared not to be a factor.

Trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. admitted he had injected Big Brown with the anabolic steroid Winstrol, which is legal in the states with Triple Crown races, but said last week he had not done it since April.

There were many questions but few answers.

"He's clean, he's sound, he's just angry," Iavarone said. "He scoped clean. His feet are ice cold, quarter crack not an issue. He had a very loose hind left shoe, but that's not an issue.

"We'll just chalk it up to a question mark at this point."

Iavarone said if no health issues pop up over the next several days, Big Brown would prepare for the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York on August 23.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)