<strong><span class="subhead">Triple Crown try</span></strong></p><p>Big Brown will try and become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win Thoroughbred racing&#8217;s Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 in New York.</p><p>Ten horses have tried to become the 12th winner of the Triple Crown but came up short in the Belmont.</p><p><span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Year</strong></td><td><strong>Horse</strong></td><td><strong>Fin.</strong></td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>2004</td><td>Smarty Jones</td><td>2nd</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>2003</td><td>Funny Cide</td><td>3rd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>2002</td><td>War Emblem</td><td>8th </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>1999</td><td>Charismatic</td><td>3rd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>1998</td><td>Real Quiet</td><td>2nd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>1997</td><td>Silver Charm</td><td>2nd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>1989</td><td>Sunday Silence</td><td>2nd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>1987</td><td>Alysheba</td><td>4th </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>1981</td><td>Pleasant Colony</td><td>3rd </td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>1979</td><td>Spectacular Bid</td><td>3rd</td></tr> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">Retirement plan</span></strong></p><p>Big Brown will stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., whenever his racing career ends.</p><p>An agreement was reached Saturday for Three Chimneys to buy an undisclosed interest in Big Brown from his ownership group headed by IEAH Stables. Financial terms were not disclosed.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">One less runner</span></strong></p><p>The field for the Preakness was reduced to 12 because of a scratch. Behindatthebar was taken out of the race because of a bruised foot.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">A better day</span></strong></p><p>Trainer Larry Jones and jockey Gabriel Saez finally had something to celebrate when Buy the Barrel won the Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes on the Preakness undercard.</p><p>Two weeks ago, they lost Eight Belles following her fatal breakdown after running second in the Kentucky Derby.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very special to win on a big day of racing,&#8221; Jones said. &#8220;It&#8217;s bittersweet for us.&#8221;