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Big Brown found to have 'slight' quarter-crack
Big Brown has suffered from foot problems before, but Dutrow said it was the first time he has developed a quarter-crack, which is a vertical crack in the hoof wall between the toe and heel of the hoof. Big Brown's hoof is currently being treated with a solution of iodine and alcohol and will be patched Monday with a set of wires and mesh, McKinlay said. "The horse is doing fine, he's eating up, he's walking the shedrow two times a day," Dutrow said. "If the race was today, or yesterday, or tomorrow, it would not be an issue. Because we have the time we've addressed the issue the right way." Dutrow said plans were going forward for Big Brown to breeze Saturday as he prepares for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, in which he is attempting to become just the 12th horse, and the first in 30 years, to win the Triple Crown. "Ian keeps telling me it's nothing and he'll be fine in a couple of days, that he will be able to fix it up by Thursday," Dutrow said. "I am sure he will be 100 percent, yes. If we get to breeze him Tuesday of Belmont week, or even Wednesday, we can live with that. Monday would be great, as long as Ian can get it done the right way." Dutrow said the horse was perfectly comfortable and in fact was "bossing people around" in the barn. "He's been as aggressive as I've seen him," said Dutrow of Big Brown, who has been walking the shedrow twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. "He's really been rank in the afternoon." Big Brown's chief Belmont antagonist, Peter Pan S. (G2) winner CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft), put in a brisk canter Sunday morning and Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto, said the colt will have a serious move on Wednesday as he tries to follow in the footsteps of siblings Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold), winners of the past two Belmonts. Also on Wednesday, a rider will be named, according to Tada. "We really appreciate how many good jockeys are interested in our horse," Tada said. "We need the right rider for the Belmont Stakes, whether it be Japanese, American, or European." Leading candidates to ride Casino Drive are Yutaka Take, Edgar Prado and Garrett Gomez. In other Belmont news: Wood Memorial S. (G1) hero TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat), fourth behind Big Brown in the Derby, is scheduled to have his penultimate breeze for the Belmont Monday morning, trainer Barclay Tagg said. "He's bred well enough to handle the distance," Tagg noted. "He's a pretty nice horse. He's swift, he's tenacious, he's got a lot of courage, and he keeps on trying. If that's not a Belmont horse, I don't know what is." That being said, Tagg had nothing but praise for the Belmont favorite, Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown. "He's a heck of a horse and Rick (Dutrow) has done a heck of a job with him," Tagg said. Also planning to work on Monday is Southwest S. (G3) victor DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday), who was last seen finishing third to Big Brown in the Run for the Roses. The blaze-faced bay, based with trainer David Carroll at Churchill Downs, is scheduled to breeze after the midsession break for track maintenance, which would put Denis of Cork on the track at around 8:20 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. (EDT). Jockey Robby Albarado will be in the saddle for the work. Albarado, who rode Denis of Cork to victory in the Southwest, will renew their partnership in the Belmont. Calvin Borel had been aboard Denis of Cork in the Kentucky Derby. Peruvian superstar TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]), who underwent a myectomy to correct a breathing problem after his seventh-place finish in the Peter Pan on May 10, remains day-to-day for the Belmont, according to trainer Dante Zanelli. "So far he's doing OK," Zanelli said. "He galloped a mile and three-quarters this morning, went well, finished well. We need to see him continue to move forward." Zanelli said the colt could breeze at Belmont this weekend, at which time a decision would be made. According to New York Racing Association Stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, other probables for the Belmont include MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), ICABAD CRANE (Jump Start) and ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop). A decision on the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of READY'S ECHO (More Than Ready) and BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) will be made by Monday, Byrnes said, and one on Casino Drive's stablemate, SPARK CANDLE (A.P. Indy), would be made later. Spark Candle could run in the Hill Prince S. (G3) going a mile over the Widener turf course one day earlier on June 6.
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