ELMONT, N.Y. - With cameras from eight television stations and several still photographers chronicling his every step, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Big Brown, arrived safely at Belmont Park at 2:25 p.m. on Monday.

Big Brown will attempt to become the sport's 12th Triple Crown winner when he runs in the $1 million Belmont Stakes here on June 7. The sport has not had a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Big Brown is the 11th horse since then to win the first two legs.

With a victory on Saturday in the Preakness Stakes to go along with a similar runaway two weeks earlier in the Kentucky Derby, Big Brown now stands just one race away from becoming racing's 12th Triple Crown winner, and the first since Affirmed in 1978. Monday, he left Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and, a little more than four hours later, arrived at Belmont Park in New York, where on June 7 he will attempt to add the 140th Belmont Stakes to his resume, and thus complete the Triple Crown.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Garrett Gomez enjoyed the best year of his career in 2006, in part due to the misfortune of John Velazquez. On Saturday, Velazquez enjoyed arguably the best day of his career at the expense of Gomez.

Though Gomez had won four consecutive races on the filly Rags to Riches this year, it was Velazquez who was aboard for her crowning achievement, Saturday's stirring head victory over Preakness winner Curlin in the $1 million Belmont Stakes. Meanwhile, Gomez trudged home fourth aboard Hard Spun, the Kentucky Derby runner-up.

After a historic Triple Crown that began with the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to capture the Kentucky Derby and concluded with the first filly to beat the boys in the Belmont Stakes in 102 years, more history figures to be made by this compelling crop of 3-year-olds during the second half of the year.

Rags to Riches, who became the talk of racing with her victory over Preakness Stakes winner Curlin in the Belmont on Saturday, could face the boys again this year, perhaps as soon as the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25, according to her trainer, Todd Pletcher.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Start spreading the news. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won his first Triple Crown race, on a day when it was ladies first at Belmont Park.

Rags to Riches, the lone filly in the 139th Belmont Stakes, overcame a significant stumble at the start and beat six boys, including Preakness Stakes winner Curlin, to end two inglorious streaks, one for fillies in the Belmont, and one for Pletcher in Triple Crown races, on Saturday at Belmont Park.

An important note to remember when looking at the Preakness pace figures:

The published points of call at 1 3/16 miles in Daily Racing Form past performance lines begin with the quarter-mile call. But at the 1 1-4 miles of the Kentucky Derby, the first published point of call is after the opening half-mile.

Thus be careful not to conclude that Hard Spun ran an 85 opening quarter pace figure in the Derby and slowed to a 71 in the Preakness. That would be comparing apples to oranges, or in this instance, the half to the quarter.

From Brad Free, Byron King, Steve Klein, Dave Litfin, Mike Watchmaker, Mike Welsch, and DRF handicappers

Analysis: Tiago and filly main threats to Curlin

If Curlin had won the Preakness by four lengths rather than a head, he would appear even more formidable in the Belmont. Since the Preakness runner-up did not enter back, it means Curlin did finish four clear of his nearest Preakness foe, and that makes him a standout in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

ELMONT, N.Y. - In 1905, Albert Einstein introduced his theory of relativity, Las Vegas was founded, and Wilbur Wright set a world record by flying an airplane 24 miles in 39 minutes.

Oh yeah, and a filly named Tanya won the Belmont Stakes.

In the 102 years since then, Einstein has become a synonym for genius, Las Vegas has turned into the gambling mecca of the universe, and the Concorde made it possible to travel the 3,500 miles between New York and London in 3 1/2 hours.

But no filly has won the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Since his dazzling debut win at Gulfstream Park four months ago, Curlin not only has developed into a co-leader among the nation's 3-year-olds, but has shown an uncommon ability to adapt to just about everything thrown his way.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A field of seven, led by Preakness Stakes winner Curlin, was entered on Wednesday for the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Curlin landed post 3 and was made the 6-5 favorite on the lines set by both Eric Donovan, of the New York Racing Association, and Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper.