Turning for home, Kent Desormeaux asked Big Brown to make his way to the front, and he did this easily, cruising to the lead at the 1/4 pole after a mile in 1:36.56. Pacesetters Bob Black Jack and Recapturetheglory tired and faded, allowing Big Brown to open up a 2 1/2 length lead at the 1/8 pole, with Eight Belles coming through between horses to challenge. However, she was no match for Big Brown, who pulled away in the final eighth mile to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 2:01.82 over a fast track.

It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to late-running 27-1 Denis of Cork third.