Belmont will have a wild card in 'Casino'

Casino Drive won't fold easily against Big Brown

BALTIMORE - No one wanted to be accused of looking past the Preakness, but that's what happened for backers of Big Brown, who easily won Part 2 of the Triple Crown yesterday.

And while the Preakness field was criticized by some for its lack of competition for Big Brown, the challengers in the Belmont are already beginning to line up.

Foremost in that group is unbeaten Casino Drive.

In only his second start, Casino Drive coasted to a 5 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park last week in a race that is usually regarded as a prep for the Belmont.

Casino Drive was purchased as a yearling for $950,000 in 2006 and is a half-sibling of the last two Belmont winners, Jazil in 2006 and Rags to Riches in 2007.

The chestnut colt is owned by Japanese businessman Hidetoshi Yamamoto and is trained by Kazuo Fujisawa. He raced once in Japan before coming to the United States.

Kent Desormeaux, who has ridden Big Brown in his two Triple Crown races, added to the mystique by calling Casino Drive the real deal.

"He's a phenomenal talent," said Desormeaux, who rode Casino Drive in the Peter Pan. "We've got our hands full with this one. It's going to be ultimately exciting for all the fans. He's got that stride."

Casino Drive made his debut Feb. 23 in Kyoto with an 11 1/2-length victory.

Retirement plans

In a deal finalized yesterday afternoon, Big Brown will head for stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., after his racing career is over, which the colt's owner, IEAH Stables, has said will be after his 3-year-old season. The stud deal reportedly puts Big Brown's total value at about $50 million. Three Chimneys also stands the 2004 Derby and Preakness winner, Smarty Jones.

A Reade on the matter

Kentucky Bear trainer Reade Baker had talked up his horse as a contender to Big Brown because Kentucky Bear had not faced him before the Preakness. Asked before the race about Big Brown's status as a super horse, Baker said to wait a bit longer. "If this horse beats me, I'll know he is the best 3-year-old around still standing," said Baker. And now he knows. Kentucky Bear finished sixth.

Echoes from 'Belles'

After the death of Eight Belles following the Kentucky Derby, safety was an underlying topic at the Preakness. Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones was part of two television round-table discussions, on ESPN and NBC, discussing possible changes in the industry. Eight Belles broke down, breaking both of her front ankles, after finishing second in the Derby and was immediately euthanized. "If she had an issue 50 yards from the wire, she never knew it," said Jones, who did not have a horse entered in the Preakness. "And they could say what they want, all the adrenaline pumping and stuff and how she wouldn't know she was hurt. I've seen horses run under stress and I've had horses have condylar fractures in a race and, believe me, they know it."