US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 04 June 2008 / Leave a comment

US racing analyst Nick Shiambouros is flying out to the States on Thursday hoping to witness history in the making

Big Brown will face the ultimate test of any three-year-old horse in the world when he attempts to win the final and most demanding leg of The Triple Crown in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

The champion survived a scare when he suffered a small injury to his left front hoof but was in action over the Belmont course on Tuesday and worked a solid 1:00.03 over five furlongs. The time was not the issue but he pulled up as sound as a bell and his trainer Richard Dutrow Jr said: "He's right on target. Couldn't be any better."

Young Irish-born jockey Michelle Nevin, who is Big Brown's exercise rider, was also very pleased, saying: "I was a nervous wreck, I'm so glad its over. I am very relieved."

Dutrow has a lot of faith in Nevin and she has repaid him handsomely with her meticulous attention to detail.

Big Brown will likely face eight rivals on Saturday and two horses that come in to the race fresh and very well prepared are Peter Pan-victor Casino Drive who will probably start second favourite and Denis Of Cork.

Casino Drive is scheduled to work this morning. Both owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa are pleased with the way preparations have gone for this lightly-raced colt and are so relaxed that they kindly entertained a group of kindergarten children on Tuesday and were even allowed to pet him and feed him carrots.

Both Mr Yamamoto and the owners of Big Brown IEAH stable and Paul Pompa Jr were touched by a story where Kenneth Baribault, a Nassau county police officer was critically injured when an alleged drunk driver hit his vehicle. Winning connections have promised to donate a portion of the winnings to start a college fund for Baribault's son. In my opinion, some of the UK press should focus on the positive sides to this great story rather than other issues which they seem to be pre-occupied with.

Denis Of Cork who finished a decent third in The Kentucky Derby is due to fly in on Wednesday and his trainer says he more than deserves to be in the field. I think if you forget his inexplicable effort in the Illinois Derby he must rate as a threat. David Carrol is a very astute trainer and this horse comes in to the race in without a hitch.

Icabad Crane has been soundly beaten by Big Brown in The Preakness but he is due to be on the training track on Thursday and is in good form.

Tale Of Ekati , a very game winner of The Wood Memorial, has completed all his serious work and will just be kept in very light work until Saturday.

Anak Nakal and Da' Tara are both due to arrive on Wednesday and trainer Nick Zito will try to salvage something from his troubled start to the year with the disappointments of former Kentucky Derby favourite War Pass.

Macho Again, who finished second behind Big Brown in The Preakness, is also scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

Ready's Echo will be a long price on the day with only a maiden victory to her name but should get the trip and comes in to the race in good order.

I have seen some great horses in my life attempting a Triple Crown such as the brilliant Sunday Silence and Charismatic, who wilted inside the final furlong at this testing mile-and-a-half distance. I refer only to those two because I was on course on both occasions and the memory is still at the front of my mind.

I will be there again this Saturday hanging from the rafters to see this attempt alongside another 120,000 fans screaming Big Brown on.

Will it be third time lucky for me? For racing's sake and my own, I sincerely hope so.

Tags: Anak Nakal, Belmont Stakes, Big Brown, Casino Drive, Da' Tara, Denis Of Cork, Icabad Crane, Macho Again, Ready’s Echo, Tale Of Ekati, Triple Crown