Oceanport, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Two months after finishing last in the Belmont Stakes, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown came from behind to win Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Big Brown was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the seven horse field.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown gave his backers a moment of anxiety when it appeared he was going to suffer his second straight defeat. After breaking sharply from the gate Big Brown relinquished the lead to Coal Play as the field headed into the clubhouse turn.

Coal Play, ridden by Joe Bravo, set the pace up the backstretch with Big Brown about a length back in second. Running in third was Atoned with Magical Forest fourth.

Around the final turn Coal Play remained on the lead as Big Brown, under urging from Desormeaux, offered no challenge. Magical Forest moved into third and Nistle's Crunch gained fourth.

In mid-stretch, the 41st Haskell seemed to belong to 20-1 longshot Coal Play. Big Brown was not able to cut into the lead. With about 100-yards to run Big Brown finally responded to Desormeaux and rallied to overtake Coal Play near the wire.

Big Brown hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Coal Play with Cool Coal Man, Coal Play's stablemate, finishing third. Alaazo, Nistle's Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest completed the order of finish.

The time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.31 on a fast track.

In spite of the less than impressive victory by Big Brown, the colt solidifies his position as the leading three-year-old of 2008. Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown lost his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 when he was eased down the stretch.

Trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., Big Brown collects $600,000 with the Haskell win and improves his career record to six victories in seven lifetime starts for better than $3.3 million.

It was the first Haskell win for both Dutrow and Desormeaux.

The colt's connections are keeping open the possibility of him running in the Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga.

Big Brown returned $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Coal Play paid $8.00 and $4.20, and Cool Coal Man paid $2.80 to show.