Bodog Beat

Big Brown has just become more unstoppable, as his biggest competitor, Casino Drive, was scratched from today's Belmont Stakes. (AP Images)

Today's Belmont Stakes may have just become a little less exciting, with Big Brown's quest for the Triple Crown becoming a whole lot easier as rival Casino Drive was scratched with a bruised hoof. Casino Drive was seen as the one horse who could come between Big Brown's race for history.

On Friday, Casino Drive's trainers were concerned about his tender left-hind hoof.

"We are not 100 percent happy with the movement of the hind leg," said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Casino Drive's Japanese connections. "We haven't withdrawn him, just giving him an easy day."

However on Saturday, they decided to let the colt trot around the Belmont Park track and noticed him having some difficulty and decided to scratch him from the race.

"This morning, he was feeling well, so we took him to the track for a canter," Tada told reporters.

"He came back well to the stable, but later he started favoring his left-hind again. It's not serious, just a small stone bruise, and he will be fine. But the timing is terrible."

Tada said the colt would be sent back to Japan to heal. Will Big Brown make Triple Crown history? Bet on the Belmont Stakes today!