Derby Winner Big Brown Sold to Three Chimneys in Stallion Deal By Nancy Kercheval May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown will stand stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky, which purchased an undisclosed interest in the colt. The sale was announced at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore about an hour before today's Preakness Stakes. Big Brown, undefeated in four starts, is an early 1-to-5 favorite to win the Preakness, the second event in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Financial details weren't disclosed. NBC Sports said it was worth more than $50 million. The network didn't say where it got its information. ``We have entertained a variety of flattering offers but felt Three Chimneys was the best choice for us,'' Michael Iavarone, co-president of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Inc., which owns 75 percent of the 3-year-old colt, said in a statement. ``We were determined to participate in his breeding career and the Three Chimneys deal has given us this opportunity.'' At the end of his racing career, Big Brown will join Smarty Jones, who won the Derby and Preakness in 2004 and Dynaformer, the sire of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro, at the farm ``Three Chimneys is thrilled to have the privilege to stand a horse of Big Brown's caliber,'' said Robert Clay, owner of the farm. ``Having won every race he's won with such ease, I don't think we've actually seen what he's truly capable of.'' After the Derby, Iavarone was asked at a post-race party if he'd take $60 million for Big Brown, which cost his $2.5 million for his stake last September. ``No,'' replied Iavarone, who's said the same to six subsequent offers. ``There are some figures we couldn't refuse,'' he said, mentioning as a for-instance $100 million. ``We have all options open.'' For related news: IEAH: http://www.ieah.com To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval at Pimlico Race Course at nkercheval@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: May 17, 2008 17:54 EDT