OCEANPORT, N.J. — Big Brown barely bounced back from his last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes with a victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park today.

The win was in doubt until the final strides, when Big Brown staged a furious rally under jockey Kent Desormeaux and beat 20-1 long shot Coal Play by 1¾ lengths before a cheering crowd of 45,132 at Monmouth Park.

The Haskell was Big Brown's first race since his Belmont flop eight weeks ago ended the colt's quest to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.

Winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Big Brown never had to rally in the stretch before and had to do it against what was considered a weak field. The 3-year-old colt won his first five starts by a combined 39 lengths before his inexplicable performance in the Belmont, when he was pulled up with a quarter-mile to go.

Coal Play, trained by Nick Zito, who won the Belmont with 38-1 shot Da' Tara, nearly gave the Hall of Famer another huge upset. Coal Play led most of the race, but could not hold off a determined Big Brown.

When Desormeaux went to the whip entering the stretch, even Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow said, "I thought we were going to get beat."

Big Brown beat six rivals who had combined for just two graded stakes wins and he went off as the 1-5 favorite. Winning time for the 1 1-8 miles was 1:48.31.

"His reputation was on the line today," said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, Big Brown's majority owner. "He's a top horse. It was little more than I was expecting — he really struggled out there to run this horse down but Zito's horse ran great."

Cool Coal Play, also trained by Zito, was third, followed by Alaazo, Nistle's Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest. Big Brown returned $2.40 for a $2 win bet.

The win was worth $600,000 for owners IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin and Andrew Cohen and boosted Big Brown's bankroll to $3,314,500.

Dutrow, who has exuded confidence in Big Brown at every turn, did not seem overjoyed with the way the colt won. Asked why it took so long for Big Brown to find a gear he usually finds much earlier in races, Dutrow said, "I don't know.

"I was concerned at the 3-8ths pole and it looked like we were beat turning for home," he added. "But he got down on his belly and he won, though."

Whether Big Brown races again is open to debate. Dutrow said he doubts the colt will be ready to return in 20 days and run in the Travers at Saratoga. Other options include the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 1, the MassCap on Sept. 20, or the Jockey Club Gold Cup or Goodwood Breeders' Cup (both Sept. 27).

The plan also calls for Big Brown to finish his racing career in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The colt was syndicated for a reported $50 million and will be retired after his 3-year-old campaign.