ELMONT, N.Y. -- Big Brown's bid for a Triple Crown might be getting a little easier. Casino Drive, considered the primary challenger to Big Brown's Triple bid, has a bruised hoof, but still is expected to run in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
The lightly-raced Japanese-based colt skipped his morning gallop today when his connections noticed he was walking oddly after leaving the barn at about 5 a.m.
A bruise -- perhaps from stepping on a stone -- was discovered on the bottom of his left hind hoof, said Nobutaka Tada, the racing manager for Casino Drive's owners.
Tada said Casino Drive was examined by a track vet and no further issues were discovered. "It's a setback," said Casino Drive jockey Edgar Prado, who had not heard about the horse's health issue when questioned at about noon.
Tada said the winner of the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes would be evaluated later today. Tada said there is no plan to scratch the colt from the Belmont, the final leg of the Triple Crown.
"There is nothing to stop us (from racing) at the moment," Tada said. "As long as he's going like this, there is no reason to stop him."
The undefeated 3-year-old will receive hot and colt treatment on the hoof, Tada said. Any decision on a possible scratch will be made based on his progress in the next 24 hours.
"It all depends on how he moves tomorrow," Tada said.
Casino Drive is 7-2 in the morning line and the other horse with odds of less than 10-1 in Big Brown's goal to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. Meanwhile, Big Brown, the 2-5 favorite after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, will have his cracked left front hoof patched.
Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, who will perform the 45-minute procedure, guaranteed the quarter crack will not be an issue in Big Brown's bid to win the Belmont.
"Yeah, I will guarantee that," he said. "There's really not anything that can go wrong at this point."
Poster Comment:
It's interesting that both Big Brown (last week) and now Casino Drive suffered injuries to their hooves during practice. I hope both horses are healthy enough to give their best tomorrow at the Belmont Stakes. It should be exciting!