On the day before the Belmont Stakes, very few entrants came out to the track
for the morning gallops. Second choice Casino Drive was expected to gallop as
he has every day this week, but a stone bruise was discovered in his left hind
hoof so trainer Kazuo Fujisawa brought him back to the barn. "He has a small
issue with his left-hind leg, and we were not happy. So we did not go to the
track," Nobutaka Tada, a spokesman for Fujisawa, said. "We have not yet
scratched him from the race. We think it might be a small stone bruise and we
will watch it closely."
This afternoon are the Brooklyn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/2 miles and the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) at 1 mile on the turf for the 3-year-olds, so post them later this evening.
Macho Again galloped and exited the track via the paddock on Friday morning. Here he is walking back through the barn area afterwards.
Big Brown came out on Friday morning for a slow jog once around the track at Belmont Park. First he stood on the track for a while then started his jog. Right is Big Brown on the horse path from his barn to the track. Left is him standing watching the other horses before he starts his jog.
Once Big Brown finished his jog, he walked back to the barn with a hoard of photographers in hot pursuit. Right is him slowing down at the end of his jog. Left is him walking back to the barn on the horse path.
Denis of Cork came out for a gallop Friday morning. Left is him galloping. Right is while he was walking the shedrow to cool down afterwards.
Guadalcanal, the last minute entry to the Belmont Stakes, was out for a gallop as well. Here he is coming off the track.
Triple Crown quick links:
2010 Kentucky Derby Contenders - It's that time again! Here is my ever changing list of early Derby contenders with photos and profiles. I will update this as needed, so expect a lot of changes between now and May 1st.
Derby Contender Graded Stakes Earnings - ranks the top contenders by graded earnings. This is what determines who can get in the starting gate on Derby day. Includes earnings through 3/15.
Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 - Wagering is now closed for Pool 2 and once again the field was the favorite at 3-1 with Eskendereya next at 5-1. In the Oaks Future, Blind Luck was the favorite at 4-1.
Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 - Wagering is now closed and the field wound up as the 3-2 favorite with Looking At Lucky next at 8-1. Get the horses, odds, and free past performances here.
Kentucky Derby Future Wager - There will again be three future wager pools for the Derby on February 12-14, March 5-7, and March 26-28. There will be a single pool for the Oaks on March 5-7.
Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs. A great new DVD with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
Fillies in the Kentucky Derby - a look at the 39 fillies who have contested the Run for the Roses and how they did. So far there have been 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 5 thirds.
