Big Brown treated for front hoof injury

Big Brown's perfect path has its first bump. The unbeaten Triple Crown contender has a slight crack on his left front hoof, although trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was confident the injury won't keep his colt from running in the Belmont Stakes in less than two weeks. However, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner has missed two days of training at Belmont Park, and will miss at least several more while being treated by hoof specialist Ian McKinlay for a quarter crack five-eighths of an inch long on the inside of his left heel. "We're all concerned because there's a big race coming up," Dutrow said yesterday. "But Ian has us pretty well relaxed. He's telling me it's nothing and he'll be fine in a few days." Unlike the two-week turnaround between the Derby and the Preakness, there's a three-week break before the Belmont June 7. McKinlay has repaired injuries much more severe before big races, allowing Touch Gold to fight off a leg injury from the 1997 Preakness and go on to win the Belmont and spoil Silver Charm's Triple try in 1997 . . . Driver Jonathan Roberts picked up where he left off at Rockingham Park, winning five races. Roberts also won five on the final day of racing at Rockingham last year.

Authorities in Gainesville, Fla., charged Chicago Bulls forward and former Florida star Joakim Noah with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol. A Gainesville police spokesman said Noah was arrested around 1:50 a.m. after an officer spotted him on a sidewalk holding a plastic cup containing an amber drink. During a search at the station, officers found marijuana in his pocket. Noah was released after signing a notice to appear before a judge - standard procedure for such offenses. He could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for the marijuana charge. A Bulls spokesman said general manager John Paxson expressed to Noah "his disappointment in his actions" and added: "Until we gather further information on this situation, we won't be making any further comment." . . . Lisa Leslie had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Candace Parker followed her record-breaking (34 points) WNBA rookie debut with 12 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 74-56 victory over the host Atlanta Dream . . . Alana Beard hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining as the Washington Mystics won their home opener, 69-66, over the Houston Comets . . . Plenette Pierson scored 25 points to help the Detroit Shock beat the visiting New York Liberty, 72-62.

The Rockies placed left fielder Matt Holliday on the 15-day disabled list, the latest injury to hit the defending National League champions. Holliday strained his hamstring running out a ground out against the Mets Saturday. Outfielder Cory Sullivan was recalled from Triple A Colorado Springs to take his place. The Rockies put shortstop Clint Barmes (sprained MCL) and right fielder Brad Hawpe (hamstring) on the DL Saturday . . . Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona, who was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday, is expected to be sidelined four weeks after an MRI revealed a moderate strain of an exterior muscle in his left hip. The Indians are expected to activate righthander Jake Westbrook (strained rib muscle) to take Carmona's place in the rotation . . . Yankees catcher Jorge Posada expects to play four or five games in extended spring training as he continues to rehabilitate his injured throwing shoulder.

Chad Barrett scored twice and Cuauhtemoc Blanco added a goal and three assists to lead the visiting Chicago Fire (6-2-1) to a 5-1 win over the New York Red Bulls and into a tie with the Columbus Crew (6-2-1) and the Revolution (6-3-1) for first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and overall standings. The Fire broke the game open with four second-half goals, snapping the Red Bulls' five-game unbeaten streak. Jozy Altidore scored for the Red Bulls (3-2-3) . . . Crew midfielder Frankie Hejduk was added to the US roster for Wednesday's friendly against England at Wembley Stadium. US defender Jonathan Spector has been experiencing hip joint irritation, and his availability for Wednesday remains in question.

Lewis Hamilton overcame a rain-slick street circuit and an early accident for a Monaco Grand Prix victory that put him at the top of the Formula One standings. Hamilton, who finished second to former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso at Monaco last year, beat BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica by three seconds. Hamilton has 38 points in the overall standings, three more than Kimi Raikkonen, who finished out of the points in ninth place . . . Authorities are investigating the death of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Thomas McHale, 45, who was found at a friend's home in Florida. Foul play is not suspected . . . Kirk Wright, convicted last week in a multimillion dollar investment fraud whose victims included pro football players, committed suicide in a Georgia jail Saturday . . . Emanuele Sella won his second straight mountain stage at the Giro d'Italia, and Alberto Contador took the overall lead. Sella finished the 95-mile leg from Arabba to Passo Fedaia in 4 hours 53 minutes 24 seconds. Contador has a 33-second lead over Riccardo Ricco.