Big Brown doesn't disappoint at Monmouth
BY DOUG McKENZIE Correspondent
      This time, Big Brown delivered. In his first race since a disastrous performance at the Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning Big Brown used a late charge to catch upsetminded Coal Play in the final furlong to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational presented by Vonage (G1) by nearly two lengths on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
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A day at the races
     Above: Jockey Kent Desormeaux and Big Brown (right) lead the early action in the 2008 $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport on Aug. 3. Below: Desormeaux holds the winner's trophy from the race. Earlier in the year, Desormeaux led the horse to victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling short at the Belmont Stakes in New York. Over 45,000 fans turned out for the day's 14 races. The prize horse finished the race in 1:48 1/5 and paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10 as a huge favorite. Coal Play, with odds of 20-1, placed in the runnerup spot, paying $8.00 to place and $4.20 to show. Cool Coal Man paid $2.80 to show. The Haskell Invitational brought in a record $4,257,409.
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Cheering for greatness
     CHRIS KELLY staff Fans cheer on jockey Kent Desormeaux and Big Brown during the 2008 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport on Aug. 3.
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Play at the plate
     PHOTO BY FRANK GALIPO Freehold Clippers catcher Chris Griffin, Shrewsbury, tags out the base runner at home against the Manchester Yankees during the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League finals at Monmouth University on Aug. 2.
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Asbury Park 5K scheduled for Saturday morning
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
      The fifth annual Asbury Park 5K road race will take place Saturday. Race director Phil Hinck is expecting 1,000 or so runners to compete in the event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. A year ago, 868 people, many from Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties, participated.
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