As talented and physically imposing a presence as Triple Crown contender Big Brown is, trainer Rick Dutrow seems just as impressed by the colt’s personality and intelligence.

“He’s just a very cool customer,” said Dutrow Friday morning after the colt galloped over Belmont Park‘s main track in preparation for the June 7 Belmont Stakes, the final race of the Triple Crown. “I think he knows things other horses just don’t get. He’s just way ahead. He’s just an absolute pleasure to be around.”

As the colt received a bath following his morning exercise, Dutrow marveled at how picture-perfect Big Brown appeared.

“Look at good he looks,” said the trainer. “He just looks unbelievable. I can’t believe I’m training a horse that looks this good and has done what he’s done. Forget about it. There’s no way in the world there’s any horse that’s doing any better than Big Brown. It’s impossible. He is just shiny, so proud of himself, he’s just everything you want to see in a racehorse. He’s beautiful to watch train, he’s beautiful to pet, beautiful to be around.”

In the $1 million Belmont Stakes, Big Brown is attempting to become just the 12th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes and the first since Affirmed in 1978. According to New York Stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, challenging him in the 1 ½ mile race, which will be run for the 140th time, will be Anak Nakal, Casino Drive, Denis of Cork, Icabad Crane, Macho Again, Tale of Ekati and Tomcito, and possibly Ready‘s Echo or Behindatthebar.

Dutrow reiterated he did not think any of those contenders were the equal of Big Brown and predicted nothing could stand in his way.

A wet track?

“He would love it. It would work to our advantage. He would absolutely love it. “

The quarter crack?

“Not an issue.”

Post position?

“I don’t seven care about the post.”

Anything?

“If they said, “Rick we‘re going to run the Belmont on the grass this year, I‘d say ‘That’d be fine‘,” he said. “We don’t need to worry. He will handle things.”

Macho Again had a solid work this morning for trainer Dallas Stewart at Churchill Downs, going a half-mile in :48.20 over the fast main track under exercise rider Kenny Borque. The move ranked 11th of 55 at the distance.

“It was very good work,” Stewart said. “We opened him up a little, and I liked the way he finished. He came home in :11, so we were pretty happy with him.”

Stewart said he would ship to Belmont Park on Tuesday.

A son of Macho Uno, Macho Again was second to Big Brown in the Preakness, beaten five and a quarter lengths after a troubled trip.

The New York Racing Association will host the first “Fabulous Fillies Day Luncheon” at Belmont Park on Friday, June 6, at 11:30 a.m. in the Belmont Room, second floor, Clubhouse.

On the day before the 140th running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7, participants in the Fabulous Fillies Day Luncheon will look back one year ago when another fabulous filly, Rags to Riches, won the Belmont Stakes by a head over eventual Horse of the Year Curlin. Rags to Riches became only the third filly in history and the first in 102 years to win the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion,” the oldest and longest leg of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

Cost is $40 per person and includes buffet lunch (tax and gratuity included), box seats, program, escorted trip to paddock, winners’ circle for trophy presentation, photo of Rags to Riches’s 2007 Belmont Stakes victory and a 2007 Belmont Stakes souvenir glass (with complimentary cocktail).

RSVPs by May 30 will also receive free valet parking.

Additionally, NYRA Paddock Host Jan Rushton will handicap the card as well as present a “Closer Look” television special on Rags to Riches, along with a replay of Rags to Riches’ triumphant Belmont Stakes. NYRA’s Joanne Adams will also talk about owning Thoroughbreds.

Other activities include an informal fashion show featuring Lilly Pulitzer clothing, and anyone dressed in Lilly Pulitzer fashion will be eligible for a special raffle. Other assorted raffles, including a gift basket valued at $250, prizes, and discount coupons for Lilly Pulitzer styles at The Island in nearby Garden City, N.Y. will be offered to all luncheon participants.

For reservations, call Joanne Adams at (718) 659-2262

THE BELMONT BREEZE –“TOAST OF THE CHAMPION”           

The Belmont Breeze is the official drink of the Belmont Stakes. Created by Dale DeGroff – head bartender of the Rainbow Room/Windows of the World – the profile of the Belmont Breeze comes from the colonial recipe: “One of sour, one of sweet, three of strong and four of weak.”           

“I wanted to use a spirit that has significance in New York,” DeGroff said. “I chose rye whisky because New York has always been a big rye town. Rye was one of the first spirits to be distilled in quantity in America and by none other than George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.”           

The ingredients are:

1 ½ ounces of a good American blended whisky

¾ ounces Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce simple syrup (1 ounce sweet and sour mix may be substituted)

1 ½ ounces fresh orange juice

1 ½ ounces cranberry juice

1 ounce 7-Up

1 ounce club soda            

Shake first six ingredients, then top with 7-Up and club soda. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon wedge.