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Big Brown jogs; rider 'up in the air' for Casino Drive
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Big Brown hasn't let the Triple Crown frenzy faze him
(Adam Coglianese Photo/NYRA) |
Dual classic winner BIG BROWN (Boundary), who will seek to become racing's
12th Triple Crown winner in the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 7, jogged
once around the main track at Belmont Park on Wednesday shortly after 6 a.m.
(EDT). It was the first return to the track since his dominating 5 1/4-length
victory in Saturday's Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico.
"He went out and did his usual thing," said his regular exercise rider,
Michelle Nevin. "He was very interested in the chickens (in the barn area) today."
The undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness winner will be making only
his sixth career start in the 140th running of the Belmont, the oldest, and at 1
1/2 miles, the longest leg of the Triple Crown. Seattle Slew, who was
nine-for-nine after sweeping the series in 1977, is the only horse to win all three races while
undefeated.
In a wide-ranging news conference outside his barn on Wednesday morning,
trainer Richard Dutrow exuded confidence in Big Brown's ability to accomplish
what no horse has done since Affirmed in 1978.
"It's not a sure thing, but he's very live," quipped Dutrow, adding that
barring the unforeseen, he fully expects to be in the winner's circle following
the Belmont.
"I wish (the Belmont) were now because our horse is fit," he said. "Time is
on our side because our horse is good."
Dutrow, who said he has about 110 horses in training at Aqueduct, Monmouth
Park and, of course, at Belmont Park, admitted that virtually all of his
attention has been focused on Big Brown since the colt made his first start for
Dutrow in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on March 5.
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"I'm glad he's here, safe and sound," he said. "Things just couldn't be
better with Big Brown and that's great for me to say.
"I just want to be with him and see him. I'm not around my (other) horses,
but I know this is where I'm supposed to be. I don't want to miss nothing here.
I'll never be able to do this again. He's so much fun to be around."
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Casino Drive will try to take the Belmont jackpot
(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) |
The other undefeated horse in the Belmont will be CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft),
who scored an impressive 5 3/4-length victory in the Peter Pan S. (G2) on May 10
in his second career start. The colt, who is based in Japan, also galloped early
Wednesday morning as his connections mulled over selecting a jockey for the
race.
According to Nobutaka Tada, the racing manager for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto,
Japanese, European and American riders are under consideration. Favored are
Yutake Take, Edgar Prado and Garrett Gomez.
"It's up in the air," said Tada, who indicated a decision would be made
within a few days.
Casino Drive, who is a half-brother to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil (Seeking the
Gold) and a three-quarter brother to 2007 Belmont heroine Rags to Riches (A.P.
Indy), is scheduled to breeze this weekend, weather permitting. All three share
the same dam, 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister).
SPARK CANDLE (A.P. Indy), who ran sixth in the Peter Pan, is listed as
possible for the Belmont. However, Tada said he would likely run in the $150,000
Hill Prince S. (G3) the day before. The Hill Prince is for three-year-olds at a mile
on the turf. Spark Candle, who was equipped with blinkers, forced the early pace
for his stablemate in the Peter Pan.
Southwest S. (G3) winner DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday), who finished third
in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs on
Monday. Trainer David Carroll was pleased with the move, which ranked fifth out
of 31 works at the distance.
"It was a nice five-eighths move," Carroll said. "It was his first breeze
since the Derby, and he went very well. He was well within himself. He's fit and
we are looking forward to running in the race."
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Carroll knows about upsets in this historic race. In 1989, he worked for Hall
of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and was the exercise rider for Easy Goer. The
Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up won the Belmont and ruined the Triple Crown hopes of Sunday
Silence, who is one of 18 horses to lose the Triple Crown in the Belmont.
Denis of Cork is scheduled to breeze on Sunday or Monday. Carroll said the
colt likely will travel to New York on June 3.
Multiple Group 1 winner TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]), who finished seventh
behind Casino Drive in the Peter Pan, galloped 1 1/2 miles on Wednesday. Trainer
Dante Zanelli reported that the colt, who won four of five starts in Peru,
including one at the Belmont distance of 12 furlongs, is recuperating from minor
throat surgery.
"He displaced his palate in the Peter Pan, and had a myectomy (on May 13) so
he would remain on target for the Belmont," Zanelli said. "He returned to the
track on May 16 and at this point we are training and going on a day-to-day
basis. Hopefully, he gets his confidence back. Big Brown may be from another
planet, but we will try to do our best."
Wood Memorial (G1) hero TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat), who finished fourth
in the Run for the Roses, came out of his Tuesday work in good order, according
to assistant trainer Robin Smullen. The bay colt sizzled four furlongs in a
bullet :46 4/5 at Belmont Park, easily the fastest of 36 works at the distance.
"It was a little faster than we wanted, but he was bucking and squealing on
the way back," Smullen said. "He'll work again Monday, then the following
Sunday, and run in the Belmont."
Smullen and trainer Barclay Tagg have an interesting perspective on Big
Brown's run at the Triple Crown. In 2003, Funny Cide, now Tagg's stable pony,
headed into the Belmont as the favorite following his impressive wins in the
Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to finish third.
"Big Brown is a pretty formidable character," Smullen added. "I'm hoping for
us that we run well, and win. Both Smarty (Jones in 2004) and Funny (Cide)
looked unbeatable coming into it -- when they win the first two legs the way
they did, they look unbeatable. Maybe Big Brown is -- but there's a ton of
people willing to try if he's not."
Among those expected to challenge Big Brown in the Belmont are: ANAK NAKAL
(Victory Gallop), BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat), Casino Drive, Denis of Cork,
ICABAD CRANE (Jump Start), MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), READY'S ECHO (More Than
Ready), Tale of Ekati and Tomcito.
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