Big Brown gallops, ‘right on target’ for Belmont

Big Brown’s date with destiny draws nigh as the countdown to the Belmont continues (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) hero BIG BROWN (Boundary) remains “right on target” for the 140th running of the Belmont S. (G1) on June 7 in which he will attempt to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since Affirmed in 1978. With a set of stainless steel wires holding a small quarter-crack together, Big Brown galloped 1 1/2 miles under regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin on Thursday. Trainer Rick Dutrow said the colt would breeze once before the 1 1/2-mile classic, either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, after a patch is applied to the five-eighths inch crack on the inside of his left-front hoof. “It’s coming slowly but surely,” Dutrow said. “If we were under pressure, (hoof specialist Ian McKinlay) could patch him today, but we’re not under any pressure. We’ve got time. Today’s only Thursday.” Big Brown developed the quarter-crack after galloping last Friday, and remained in his barn over the Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, after the crack was laced together, the colt jogged. On Wednesday, Big Brown resumed galloping. On a scale of one-to-10, McKinlay said the quarter-crack was about a “seven or eight” in terms of being healed. “At this point we are playing it as safe as possible,” McKinlay said. “All I do is make sure the wires are intact. I just check it every day after it’s done.”

Nobutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management Ltd. and
spokesman for owner Hidetoshi Yamamato and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, said a
decision would be made on Sunday on whether or not to run SPARK CANDLE (A.P.
Indy) in the Belmont.

Spark Candle, a $1.5 million yearling purchase out of champion Serena’s Song
(Rahy), pressed early fractions of :23, :46 1/5 and 1:10 2/5 before finishing
sixth in the Peter Pan S. (G2) on May 10.

That set up stablemate CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft) for an impressive 5
3/4-length victory in the nine-furlong Peter Pan.

Tada said that there is some concern over a lack of pace among the expected
Belmont participants, and that would be the only reason to run Spark Candle.

Casino Drive, a $950,000 yearling purchase, is undefeated in two career
starts. The chestnut colt 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). All three share the same dam, 2007 Broodmare of the Year
Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister).

Meanwhile, Tada has taken some time to enjoy the area. He has been to
Manhattan twice, found a local Irish pub — “First Guinness in five weeks” —
and Friday, he and assistant trainer Tomo Ozeki, exercise rider Nobu Maeda and
groom Mosa Teshima are going to Shea Stadium, where the New York Mets will host
the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. (EDT) in a major league baseball game.

The $1 million Belmont will be race 11 of a 13-race card. First race post is
noon and the last race post is 7:40 p.m. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Belmont
Park will offer a $1 million guaranteed Pick 6 beginning on race 6 on Belmont
Stakes Day. A $1 million guaranteed Pick 4 will begin on race 8.

Reserved seats are sold out for Belmont Stakes Day.