Big Brown´s Triple Crown bid made easier Big Brown, who bids to become the first horse to win the American Triple Crown in 30 years, has made his task simplified following the defection of second favourite Casino Drive from tonight´s Belmont Stakes. Casino Drive, the Japanese-trained colt had been regarded as Big Brown´s main threat to Triple Crown glory, but having initially given the all-clear after watching the second favourite canter three furlongs at Belmont Park on Saturday morning, trainer Kazuo Fujisawa reversed his decision and scratched Casino Drive owing to a bruised near-hind hoof. Racing manager Nobutaka Tada explained that Casino Drive had appeared to be favouring the troubled hoof while being bathed after the spin. The injury materialised on Friday, when Casino Drive missed an intended morning workout, throwing his Belmont participation into doubt. Although the injury is regarded as only minor in nature, it is still enough for the colt to be declared a non-runner. "The horse is OK," said Tada. "It´s not serious - it´s just a matter of timing. "It´s very sad, as many people support us," he added. "It´s sad we couldn´t meet the expectations." Unbeaten in two starts, Casino Drive was installed as second favourite for the Belmont with British bookmakers after a comfortable victory in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, the designated trial for the New York Classic. Regarded as a major stumbling block to Big Brown´s bid to complete the Triple Crown, Casino Drive will now return to Japan on Tuesday. He could return to the States in the autumn to contest the Breeders´ Cup Classic. Even if Casino Drive had run, Big Brown would have started a long odds-on favourite. In his absence, he could be as short as 1-4.
