It was one week ago Friday that Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown put a scare into the horse racing world when he was diagnosed with what is called a “Quarter Crack” hoof injury. The public is craving a Triple Crown winner, something it hasn’t seen in over 30 years. Just when it looked like we have a horse that can’t be denied the steed is injured. Well, hold on now…It appears Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.is declaring Big Brown to be back and stronger than ever.
It doesn’t seem the handicappers have been too concerned with Big Brown’s prognosis. According to oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com , odds on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner have been holding steady at 1/3. Only Casino Drive at 5/2 is in the single digit range. Denis of Cork at is the next best thing at 15/2 followed by Tale of Ekati at 10/1. After that the good odds are pretty slim with hopefuls, and that’s all they are is hopeful, Behindthebar (20/1), Macho Again (20/1), Mint Lane (30/1) and Tomcito (30/1).
Triple-Crown hopeful Big Brown began training on Tuesday for the first time since incurring the injury last Friday. "He looks like an absolute picture," said Dutrow after the colts workout.
Dutrow seemed to think Big Brown was more at ease after the workout."I felt him going to the track was not only good for his conditioning, but also good for his mind," Dutrow said. "He's been kind of aggravated. He don't know why he's not going to the track. He just doesn't understand why he's not doing it. And we can't explain it to him. So we let him go out there today and take the edge off of him. He's just getting too rough around the barn."
In other Belmont Stakes related news, it was announced this week that world renowned jockey Edgar Prado will ride rival colt Casino Drive in the race. Prado has twice ridden horses to victory in the Belmont Stakes. In 2004 Prado rode Birdstone to victory in the Belmont Stakes over heavy favorite Smarty Jones.
Belmont Stakes Odds at Sportsbook.com
Big Brown 1/3
Casino Drive 5/2
Denis of Cork 15/2
Tale of Ekati 10/1
Behindatthebar 20/1
Macho Again 20/1
Mint Lane 30/1
Tomcito 30/1
