Casino Drive Scratched From Belmont

ELMONT, New York (Ticker) -- Casino Drive has been scratched from Saturday's Belmont Stakes due to a bruised left hind hoof, according to the Schenectady Gazette.

Considered the main threat to foil Big Brown's bid at winning the Triple Crown in the final leg, Casino Drive seemed to be healthy during Saturday morning's workout. But according to the report, the horse appeared to be favoring the hoof after returning to the stables. "This morning we check and he is OK," Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Japanese owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto, told the Gazette. "We send him to the main track and he had cantering, and he came back to the yard OK, no problem. Then, (again) he just (started) carrying his hind (leg). We checked again and it became warm." The 3-year-old Japanese-bred was listed as "questionable" after skipping his morning workout on Friday after trainer Kzuo Fujisawa noticed the colt wasn't walking normally.

Casino Drive was listed at 7-2 on the morning line and was coming off an impressive win in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 10. Despite making his debut on the Triple Crown trail, Casino Drive comes from championship stock as he is the half-brother of the last two Belmont winners, Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007). Big Brown, who is attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, had an acrylic patch applied on Friday to repair a slight quarter crack in his left front hoof.

Big Brown To Go From the #1 Post

ELMONT, New York (Ticker) -- Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown will break from the rail Saturday in the 140th Belmont Stakes. Trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, Big Brown will face nine other rivals in the grueling 1 1/2-mile race dubbed the "Test of the Champion." The unbeaten Big Brown roared to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. However, the colt enters his biggest test with health questions after developing a slight quarter crack to his left front hoof. Big Brown enjoyed an impressive final workout Tuesday, breezing five furlongs in 1:00, an effort that left trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. as confident as ever. "I feel as good as I can possibly feel about Big Brown," said Dutrow, who earlier predicted his horse would win the Derby and Preakness. "I feel very good. I was not expecting to see anything other than what we saw."

Big Brown to Have Few Challengers

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Big Brown may have to deal with all new rivals in the Preakness Stakes. It appears as though none of the 19 horses that Big Brown defeated in the Kentucky Derby will try to derail his run in the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 17. Among the connections of horses who finished behind Big Brown at Churchill Downs, only trainer Louie Roussel left the door open, saying he may run Recapturetheglory, who finished fifth at Churchill Downs. The undefeated Big Brown, who won the Derby by 4 3/4 lengths to improve to 4-for-4 in his career, is expected to remain at Churchill Downs until May 14 before shipping to Pimlico. Kentucky Bear and El Gato Maio, who were excluded from the Derby due to insufficient earnings, could be among the challengers to Big Brown in the Preakness.

Curlin Wins 2008 Debut

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Ticker) -- Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, won his 2008 debut Thursday in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba racecourse. It was a brilliant 4-year-old debut for Curlin, who won in his final preparation for the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 29.

Racing for the first time since winning the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic last October, Curlin romped in Thursday's 1 1/4-mile race, placing 2 1/4-lengths ahead of Familiar Territory. Jet Express was third in the six-horse event. Ridden by Robby Albarado and trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin captured the biggest win of his banner 2007 campaign at the Preakness Stakes last May.

Curlin also won the Arkansas Derby and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2007 en route to winning the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and top 3-year-old male. His accomplishments were even more impressive in that he went unraced as a 2-year-old.

Curlin to make 2008 Debut

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Ticker) - Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, will make his 2008 debut Thursday in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy at Nad Al Sheba racecourse. The race will not only be the 4-year-old debut for Curlin, but it also will serve as the final prep for the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 29. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin will face five other rivals in the 1 1/4-mile race.

It was a banner 2007 campaign for Curlin, who won the Preakness Stakes in May and captured the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic five months later. Curlin also won the Arkansas Derby and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2007 en route to winning the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and top 3-year-old male. His accomplishments were even more impressive in that he went unraced as a 2-year-old.

Curlin Named Horse of the Year

BEVERLY HILLS, California (Ticker) -- Curlin had a banner year in 2007. He also had a banner night at the 37th annual Eclipse Awards on Monday. After winning the Preakness Stakes in May and capturing the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic five months later, Curlin was named both Horse of the Year and the top 3-year-old male at the awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Curlin also won the Arkansas Derby and Jockey Club Gold Cup last year. His accomplishments are even more impressive in that he went unraced as a 2-year-old. For Horse of the Year, Curlin received 249 of the 267 first-place votes. Rags to Riches, who was named the top 3-year-old filly on the strength of her victory over the males in the Belmont Stakes, came in second with 12 votes.

During his acceptance speech, Curlin owner Jess Jackson announced his plans for the horse in 2008. "I encourage everyone in the industry to work together to boost the marketing, the ethics and the sincerity of the sport so that we can bring in the fans to enjoy the theater that this sport provides," Curlin owner Jess Jackson said. "I want to make the poetry in motion that is racing come alive, and since we need it so badly, we have decided to race Curlin again this year."