'Casino' has leg problem

Second choice may be a late scratch

NEW YORK - Casino Drive, the second choice behind morning-line favorite Big Brown in today's 140th Belmont Stakes, has developed a problem with his left hind leg, leading to speculation that he might be a late scratch.

According to Nobutaka Tada, a spokesman for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, the undefeated son of Mineshaft missed his workout yesterday because "he has a small issue with his left hind leg and we're not happy."

Tada said no decision on Casino Drive's status has been made.

"We have not scratched him from the race," said Tada yesterday afternoon. "We think it might be a small stone and we will watch it closely.

"Right now he is still in the race and we expect him to run. We will see how he is tomorrow."

It has been an unsettling week for Casino Drive, who has raced only twice, including a win in the Grade II Peter Pan at Belmont May 10. He had a workout Thursday and did not appear to like the muddy/sealed track, which prompted some concern from Fujisawa.

"It was a small movement that we did not like," said Tada. "We want to run in the Belmont Stakes. He was bred for this race and that is why we are here. We are planning on running, but we have to be sure he is well."

If Casino Drive is scratched, Big Brown, who was already a prohibitive favorite (2-5), will become even more the choice to become the first horse in 30 years to win the Triple Crown.

All systems go

Foot specialist Ian McKinlay put on an acrylic patch on the quarter crack in Big Brown's left front hoof, which trainer Rick Dutrow said will take care of the issue.

"The patch is on and everything looked perfect," said McKinlay. "Things couldn't be better. It's time for history."

Big Brown, however, has missed training time because of the injury, and with the prospect of a 1 1/2-mile race run in temperatures expected to be near 90 at post time, it may cause some to wonder if there'll be an upset.

Dutrow said there will be no excuses if Big Brown doesn't win. "I know we are doing the right thing for our horse," he said. "If he runs terrible and comes back with a bleeding foot, criticize us. But if he does what we think he'll do, then maybe they can say we handled him the right way.

"These horses just cannot run with Big Brown. We know we have the best horse in the race."

MassCap? No thanks

Dutrow shot down any thoughts of his horse showing up at Suffolk Downs for the Massachusetts Handicap Sept 20. Suffolk principal owner Richard Fields is hoping to lure Big Brown and last year's Horse of the Year, Curlin, with a $5 million purse.

When asked if he had any interest in the MassCap, Dutrow said, "None whatsoever. We aren't going to use the horse for stuff like that. Hopefully, he'll be going to the Travers and to the Breeders' Cup, and that's all that's on my mind.

"[The offer] doesn't mean anything - nothing. The Travers means something. The Breeders' Cup means something. Another race is just about money, and me and the owners didn't get in this for money. I don't know what they're talking about up in Boston."

Money maker

Estimates on how much Big Brown, who has a $50 million-plus deal to go to stud next year at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, would command for stud fees as a Triple Crown winner are in the $125,000-$150,000 range.

Rooting interest

Even some of Big Brown's competition wouldn't mind seeing history today. When asked how he would feel if Denis of Cork pulled off the upset, trainer David Carroll laughed. "Are you kidding me?" said Carroll. "Everyone wants to see a Triple Crown winner, and I do, too. But if he doesn't win it, it just wasn't meant to be."

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.