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:
Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 12 was entered on Wednesday for the 142nd Belmont on Saturday with 3-1 morning line favorite Ice Box drawing post 6. Get all the horses, post positions, odds, and past performances here.
Analyzing the Belmont Stakes Contenders - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Belmont winner.
Lookin At Lucky wins the Preakness - The new jockey must have changed his luck as he had no problems this time and wore down First Dude to win the Preakness with Jackson Bend third. Favorite Super Saver faded to finish 8th. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Super Saver wins the 2010 Kentucky Derby - He drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths, giving jockey Calvin Borel his third Derby win in 4 years. Ice Box and Paddy O'Prado closed from far back to finish 2nd and 3rd while favorite Lookin At Lucky was 6th.
2010 Triple Crown Late Nominations - Only six more thoroughbreds were made eligible for the three Triple Crown races for a fee of $6000 by the late nomination deadline. Any not nominated now will have to pay a huge supplement fee to enter. Check out the list here.
Belmont 101 - A basic introduction the the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown. How it began, basics of picking a winner, and how to attend in person.
