Joining the legendary Curlin in the 6:45 p.m. (EST) Classic are contenders Casino Drive, Raven's Pass and Go Between among many others. Be sure to watch the $5,000,000 event live on ESPN.

With an outstanding track record in his first 15 races, the question for Curlin remains how he will fare on a synthetic surface. Whereas Curlin has dominated the opposition on dirt, this afternoon will mark a challenge, as its also the first time since Dubai that Curlin started the race in as far as the ninth post.

Have a feeling this afternoon will see a repeat of last year's champion? Bet on Curlin.

Kicking the day off on Saturday however is the Breeders' Cup Marathon, scheduled for 1:10 p.m. (EST) on ABC, a race in which Sixties Icon is heavily favored.

The day's action can be found on ABC from the start of the Marathon race up until the conclusion of the Breeders Cup Mile (set to begin at 3:15 p.m.), and on ESPN from 3:55 p.m. until the end of the Classic.

With hours to kill and hunches to fill, bet on the Breeders' Cup.

This year's Breeders' Cup Classic saw the retirement of Big Brown due to a hoof injury and the announcement that Commentator will not race for the remainder of the season but will rest instead for a return next year. Another surprise is that Japanese superstar Casino Drive will race in the Classic after an allowance win on Sunday while preparing at Santa Anita. Basically, Curlin has his work cut out for him.

Still, with all the heavy competition, Bodog's oddsmakers have made Curlin, who will start from the No. 9 post position, is the overwhelming 13/8 favorite to win the $5,000,000 purse, putting Smooth Air as the longshot at 50/1 odds.

Watch Curlin battle it out for the Horse of the World title at Santa Anita Park tomorrow. Get all your Breeders' Cup betting in the Bodog Racebook today. The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic goes down today!

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 "We haven't withdrawn him, just giving him an easy day."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!

Garrett Gomez: The 36-year-old jockey from Tuscon, Ariz., will be showing off his riding skills on Macho Again this Saturday. With over 3,000 career wins under his belt, his bushy eyebrows and chiseled jaw line aren't the only things impressive about Gomez. Perfect for those who love bad boys, Gomez's stunning career was deterred in 2003 when he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. However, after spending 40 days in jail and some time in rehab, Gomez is back out on the track and ready to ride!

Kent Desormeaux: Big Brown ain't the only one who's big out on the track. This 38-year-old jockey from Maurice, La., is a Hall of Famer and has nearly 5,000 wins tucked away in his jock strap. Born into a Cajun family, Desmormeaux is nothing short of muj caliente!

Edgar Prado: The 40-year-old jockey from Lima, Peru, now resides in Florida and will be riding Casino Drive. Not to be counted short (that was a jockey pun), Prado has won the Belmont Stakes twice – in 2002 and 2004 – while pegged as a long shot both times. If you're a lady who can't get enough of men who aren't afraid to flaunt their soft side, Prado is involved with Belmont Park's Anna House, a child day care center for backstretch workers. Now, everyone in unison say, "Awwwwwww!"

Jeremy Rose: For those that love 'em young and Yankee, Rose will be mounting Icabad Crane on Saturday. With wholesome good looks, the 29-year-old jockey from Bellefonte, Pa., got an early career start when he was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. We'd vote him Outstanding Apprentice Hottie here!

So there you have it: A rundown of the hottest jockeys who will be putting their pint-sized bodies to the test this weekend at the Belmont Stakes! Go for the horses… Stay for the jockeys.

The Bodog Racebook has your Belmont Stakes odds. Join Bodog Beat on Belmont day for up-to-the-minute Belmont Stakes coverage.

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.

Casino Drive might give Big Brown a run for her money. (AP Images)

While the racing establishment focuses on Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown’s quest for the illusive Triple Crown, there is another story unfolding in the thoroughbred world that is increasingly attracting attention.

Saturday’s Grade 2 $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes, traditionally a prep for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, unveiled a Japanese shipper with the credentials to make a big impression on the North American racing scene.

Not only did Peter Pan winner Casino Drive get the victory in only his second lifetime start, he plans on taking his undefeated streak into the 140th Belmont and a potential confrontation with Big Brown.

The Far East invader, who demolished a maiden field in Japan prior to the Peter Pan, won by over five lengths completing the 1 1/8-mile feature in 1:47 4/5 under Kent Desormeaux, who just happens to be the rider of Big Brown.

"Yeah, he can run a lot. It's going to be fun," said Desormeaux, "He's a phenomenal talent, and we've got our hands full with this one." Referring to the Belmont, the rider proclaimed "It's going to be ultimately exciting for all of the fans." Interestingly, a rider hasn’t been named for Casino Drive in the Belmont.

A victory over Big Brown in the final leg of this year’s Triple Crown would give Casino Drive the unprecedented distinction of being the third consecutive Belmont Stakes winner from his dam, Grade 2 heroine Better Than Honour, following Jazil in 2006 and champion filly Rags to Riches, who upset Curlin in last year’s running.

Casino Drive is now perfect from two career tries and like Big Brown, untested in the process. He has earned a chance to test this year’s Derby hero in the Belmont Stakes, a grueling 1 ½ mile event that promises to live up to it’s reputation as racing’s “test of champions.” Saturday’s Preakness remains as Big Brown’s last step before he faces another fresh challenger on the road to the Triple Crown.

Get all your Preakness odds in the Bodog Racebook today.