Brown Awaits Belmont In New Shoes
Lineup Includes Four New Shooters, Preakness 2nd & 3rd, 3 Others
Jun 5, 2008
Big Brown's recurring quarter crack trouble is under the care of a hoof expert who will apply a new set of glue-on shoes to the Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes champion's feet on Friday. The champ will face four new challengers, and three repeaters, as well as Macho Again (2nd in the Preakness) and Icabad Crane (3rd in the Preakness).
Also entered in the Belmont are Denis of Cork, Anak Nakal, Tale of Ekati, all Kentucky Derby contenders, and highly touted newcomer, Casino Drive.
Yasha Glue-Ons Still Best Bet
Ian McKinlay glued Touch Gold together after the colt stumbled badly in the Preakness Stakes of 1997 and sustained a badly cracked hoof. Touch Gold beat Silver Charm, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion, to the Belmont Stakes wire by 3/4 of a length, destroying that season's Triple Crown expectations.
McKinlay has treated Big Brown for the same problem since the fall of 2007. Following the colt's Preakness Stakes win, McKinlay worked on Big Brown's left front hoof, which showed a recurring crack. The hoof expert said he was "stunned" at how well behaved Big Brown was in comparison to the ordeal last fall when the colt didn't want to be handled.
On Friday, McKinlay will give Big Brown the added protection of a new set of Yasha glue-ons. To absorb concussion, the glue-ons are made up of a firm polyurethane pad and a second, softer pad. The polyurethane wraps around the hoof's front portion, while the softer pad fits to the inner edge of the shoe to protect the heel.
It's all about prevention, McKinlay states. Horses' hoofs take a lot of concussion as they pound around a race track. The special shoes eliminate some of the concussion so the individual's feet don't get sore.
Big Brown's Exercise Rider Michelle Nevin Nervous
Big Brown's readiness to race has been the biggest story around Belmont race track this week, despite his being treated for a quarter crack and the irritation displayed by his trainer. So the most nervous person in the Thoroughbred world right now is Michelle Nevin, Big Brown's exercise rider.
Big Brown was getting edgey, and wanted out of his stall and onto the track. It was Nevin who had to handle him for a jog, then a gallop, and get the currently most watched race horse in the world back safely. She admitted to being a "nervous wreck", but she brought the champ through the workout and said he did "exactly" what was wanted of him.
Saturday, Big Brown looks history in the eye, as he attempts to become just the twelfth Thoroughbred in history to sweep the American Triple Crown.
