Jockey Kent Desormeaux almost left his riding crop in the locker room — he didn’t need it. Big Brown, out of the seventh slot, cruised to a victory in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore on Saturday. Big Brown was the  1-5  favorite. Out of the gate, Gayego and Riley Tucker, wearing blinders, went in fast. Big Brown got onto the rail, but on the backstretch, Big Brown maneuvered to the outside. From there, Desormeaux let Big Brown go another gear in the final turn. Big Brown mounted a five and a quarter length lead to win easily without going into a full sprint. Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago by four and three quarter lengths — his smallest margin of victory in his short, undefeated career. Big Brown and Desormeaux will line up for the Belmont Stakes on June 7 to race for the Triple Crown — one of the most elusive records in sports. The last winner of the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.