TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Belmont Noteook: Top Challenger Casino Drive Hits Speed Bump

ADVERTISEMENT

By SCOTT CARTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

ELMONT, N.Y. - Casino Drive is considered the biggest obstacle in the way of Big Brown and a Triple Crown. However, the Japanese-owned colt's status for today's Belmont Stakes is in question after he was held off the track for his usual training Friday.

Nobutaka Tada, spokesperson for Casino Drive's owner and trainer, said they discovered a bruise on the undefeated horse's left hind foot before his scheduled workout.

"Right now our decision is to run," Tada, the racing manager for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto, said at a late Friday afternoon meeting with reporters. "So we just didn't go to the track this morning. He's just walking in the shed. This morning we will see. We want him to run in the Belmont Stakes. He was bred for this race, and that is why we are here."

Casino Drive has only two career starts, but he won both, including the Peter Pan Stakes on May 10 at Belmont Park in his American debut. Casino Drive is listed as the second choice (7-2) behind Big Brown.

A decision whether to run Casino Drive is expected sometime this morning.

BIG BROWN PATCHED AND READY TO RUN

Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. declared the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner fit to run Friday after hoof specialist Ian McKinlay applied an acrylic patch to the quarter-crack on Big Brown's left front foot.

The injury was discovered two weeks ago and caused Big Brown to miss three days of training.

"We could run him the way he is, but we're going to patch him up," Dutrow said before the 45-minute procedure. "We're not taking any kind of risks by patching him up right now."

REAL FLOWER POWER

You've seen the pictures of the Belmont winner draped in a carnation blanket shortly after the race, one of the sport's more storied traditions.

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to make the carnation blanket?

According to the Belmont media guide, between 300 and 400 carnations are needed to make the blanket, which takes about 10 hours to glue onto a green velveteen spread.

Belmont officials have the carnations shipped from California and Bogota, Columbia.

SUNSHINE STATE HAS A FEW HOPEFULS

When Big Brown breaks from the No. 1 post today, he'll be surrounded by a Florida contingent out of the gate. All three Florida-bred horses in the field of 10 are breaking in order: Guadalcanal from Post 2, Macho Again from Post 3 and Denis of Cork from the fourth post.

In the previous 139 Belmonts, only six Florida-bred horses have won: Needles (1956), Hail to All (1965), High Echelon (1970), Affirmed (1978), Conquistador Cielo (1982) and Afleet Alex (2005).

A DIFFERENT KIND OF RIDE

Jockey Edgar Prado was thrust into the national spotlight when he rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, and two weeks later, helped prevent further damage to Barbaro's broken leg by reacting quickly when the horse was injured in the Preakness.

If not for a broken hand, Prado could be going for a Triple Crown today rather than Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux. Prado was scheduled to ride Big Brown in his inaugural race last summer, but Prado suffered a fall two days earlier and Jeremy Rose filled in. Desormeaux eventually got the mount, and the rest is history.

"If he wins the Triple Crown, I'll be there to congratulate him," said Prado, who is scheduled to ride Casino Drive today.

HOOTERS GETS BOOT

Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux won't wear the Hooters logo when the horse goes for the Triple Crown today. The New York Racing Association told the restaurant chain, which began in Clearwater, on Friday that it won't be allowed to sponsor Desormeaux because of a conflict with a competing NYRA sponsor.

NYRA told the owners of the chain it would announce a new sponsor before the race.

Hooters intends to go forward and celebrate Big Brown today in over 450 restaurants to benefit a foundation for Desormeaux's son, who has Usher syndrome.

BELMONT BITS

At 30-1, Anak Nakal isn't expected to be much of a factor, but his sire, Victory Gallop, won the 1998 Belmont ... Belmont officials project that today's crowd could threaten the track record of 120,139 in 2004 when Smarty Jones failed in his bid for the Triple Crown ... Trainer Todd Pletcher has Ready's Echo in today's Belmont. He saddled last year's winner, Rags to Riches, the first filly to win the race in 102 years.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT