JC / Railbird

The fact that the Belmont Stakes is on June 7 is not a surprise to Casino Drive’s connections, and it’s not as if Prado or Take wouldn’t love the mount on the Mineshaft colt.
Forget rumor, simple common sense tells me that Casino Drive’s connections are waiting because Desormeaux’s agent is telling them that Big Brown probably won’t run.
Also, Dutrow would be better served getting his horse ready for this race rather than tell everyone how a matchup with Curlin “wouldn’t be good for Curlin.”
Does anyone seriously think a horse worth $50 million with these kinds of issues would race after the Belmont?

Posted by EJXD2 on May 25, 2008 @ 2:54 pm

I just read an article about this and also the Desormeaux ‘rumors’ on TBChampions board. And, the fact that the jockey decision for Casino Drive has been put off until Wednesday also confirms these rumors.
Big Brown has a history of foot weaknesses, and this ‘slight’ quarter crack is just another ‘chink in the armor.’ I agree with the comment that the connections of Brownie aren’t going to risk his stud value to race him questionably, and for me, that is great news because horses have a way of paying you back big time if you mess with their soundness, safety and overall health. I pray that Brownie is kept out of the Belmont for his sake and life.
I have been rooting for Casino Drive all along because of his bloodlines to Jazil, Rags and Secretariat and I really felt he was going to win the Belmont with or without Big Brown. Needless to say, if Brownie is out of the race, CD has clear sailing and, indeed, Desormeaux will be the mount.

Posted by BelmontBelle on May 25, 2008 @ 4:33 pm

That’s a pretty thin connection to Secretariat, isn’t it? I mean Tale of Ekati, Icabad Crane, and Denis of Cork all trace back to Secretariat as well.

Posted by EJXD2 on May 25, 2008 @ 4:37 pm

Yes you are right, but I should have mentioned the dam, Better Than Honour …
I am a huge Secretariat fan and I adored Rags’ so any brother of hers has my vote. Besides I just had a feeling that CD was going to win the Belmont.

Posted by BelmontBelle on May 25, 2008 @ 4:46 pm

Yes you are right, but I should have mentioned the dam, Better Than Honour …that’s really the winning connection between Jazil, Rags to Riches and Casino Drive. And I felt that was the Triple Crown that was going to be won …

Posted by BelmontBelle on May 25, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

This is pretty interesting, but I think Big Brown will be ready to run as the injury as described anyway appears to be very minor. If Big Brown runs, Put Prado on Casino Drive and let the best horse win.

Posted by robert on May 25, 2008 @ 6:46 pm

My understanding of these things is non-existent but it seems to me that if Big Browns current injury is just another example of a genetic flaw serious enough to keep him from racing, wouldn’t the fear that flaw would be passed on cause his value as a stud drop like a rock?
Would that put tremendous pressure on the owners and trainer to race him, even if he’s not entirely sound?
Like I say, I don’t know anything about this business.
I do know this though, if Big Brown doesn’t run, I don’t care if Casino Drive runs or wins or not. Without Big Brown, and considering that Casino Drive skipped the Kentucky Derby and the Preakenss, it won’t be much of a race.

Posted by tvnewsbadge on May 25, 2008 @ 7:05 pm

Can’t buy it for a minute. Brownie will run!

Posted by lj on May 26, 2008 @ 12:06 am

Big Brown’s genetic flaws will, unfortunately, continue to be passed on to his progeny and that will further corrupt the DNA which will lead to more compromised health issues. But no one seems to care as long as millions of dollars are involved.
As far as Brownie running in the Belmont, if there is even one scintilla of doubt that he is 10000% sound, he should be scratched for his own safety and to protect his stud value. If you mess with a horse’s soundness and safety, they have a strange way of paying you back because you aren’t ‘listening’ to what they are trying to tell you. I hope and pray that Brown’s connections do right by him, but I won’t hold my breath.
With regard to Casino Drive, whatever happens with Brown, it isn’t CD’s fault or his connections. If he’s running without Brown in the race, that’s the roll of the dice, as they say. Nothing should be taken away from this other “monster.” He wasn’t ever pointed toward either the Derby or the Preakness; from the beginning, with his bloodlines and siblings success in The Belmont, that is the race he was trained for, so again, take nothing away from this horse. Many other horses aren’t run in the Derby and/or Preakness yet are raced in the Belmont …. luck of the draw, lay of the land.
GO CASINO DRIVE!!

Posted by BelmontBelle on May 26, 2008 @ 1:54 pm

coming at you from a mile high.
first horse racing business i checked was right here.
3 weeks between preakness and belmont. think i’ll hide out up in the mountains another week and let the media blow its top while i suck wind.
this is news cycle stuff nothing more. it’s belmont or bust for bb — as in you’ll never see him again if he doesn’t start.
remember — sportscenter = abc. they need more ‘juice’ to cover this thing other than the real ‘juice’ … too complicated for the PETA folk.

Posted by o_crunk on May 26, 2008 @ 11:44 pm