Bodog Beat

A win at the Belmont Stakes won't be easy for Big Brown. (AP Images)

Don’t circle Big Brown on your Belmont Stakes program just yet. Most racing experts agree that the undefeated colt has two major obstacles remaining on his quest to be the 12^th Triple Crown winner and first in 30 years.

The first and foremost concern to the connections of this year’s dominating Derby and Preakness winner is the chronic foot problem that has plagued the three-year-old throughout his brief career. Big Brown’s massive physical stature has made him prone to quarter cracks, a small crack that occurs in the hoof wall approximately one quarter of the way around the hoof from the heel. The problem is fairly common in horses of Big Brown’s size and can often be dealt with by an experienced blacksmith. However, without proper treatment, quarter cracks can become painful and force a horse out of training indefinitely.

Anxiously waiting to hear of any changes in the Belmont favorite’s status are the connections of Casino Drive, another highly regarded colt who appears as the second and final obstacle for Big Brown to overcome on the path to racing stardom.

Japanese invader Casino Drive was ridden to his impressive Peter Pan Stakes victory by Big Brown’s regular jockey Kent Desormeaux, and his connections were reluctant to name Edgar Prado as a replacement for the Belmont until the status of the Triple Crown favorite was confirmed.

Casino Drive’s owner, in sporting fashion, has expressed his desire to take on racing’s current superstar and bolster his colt’s status with an undisputed Belmont victory over the best the sport has to offer. But the Belmont picture is changing and this outcome is becoming less likely. If Big Brown is forced out of the race, a victory by Casino Drive will obviously have less significance. On the other hand, if Big Brown starts and is defeated by his foremost challenger, the racing world will likely attribute the loss to his foot problem and Casino Drive’s achievement won’t receive the distinction it deserves.

Just a week ago, the 140th Belmont Stakes appeared to be Big Brown's for the taking, but things change quickly in racing. When the field in the final leg of the Triple Crown comes to the finish line, another dramatic outcome could be in store for racing fans.

Does Casino Drive have a shot at beating Big Brown? Get your Triple Crown odds in the Bodog Racebook today.