posted June 3, 2008 at 12:45 in Triple Crown Betting Trends

Big Brown's 4 3/4 lengths victory at the 134th Kentucky Derby and his 5 1/4 lengths win in the 133rd Preakness sets up an interesting online horse betting 140th running of the Belmont Stakes with the coveted Triple Crown on the line.

If you bet horses online or at your local track, let's face the facts, if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown for the first time since Affirmed did it in 1978, the prices will be among the shortest in Belmont history since Spectacular Bid failed at odds of 1-5 in 1979. When Secretariat completed his Triple Crown sweep at odds of 1-9, he returned $2.20 to win. Big Brown's current BetUS online racebook odds to win are -300.

Big Brown, who has won all of his five career races by a combined 39 lengths, is only the fourth horse to emerge from the Derby and Preakness undefeated. A win would equal the record of Seattle Slew as the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. Seattle Slew was 9-0 after he won the Belmont.

Big Brown arrived at Belmont Park on Monday and is stabled in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in the former stall of 2003 Belmont Stakes victor Empire Maker.

Last Friday, there was a slight quarter crack about three-quarters of an inch long discovered on Big Brown's left front hoof. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay stitched up the crack with stainless steel wire Monday.

Big Brown galloped 1 1/2 miles after his hoof was repaired for the first time at Belmont Park on Wednesday and showed no apparent signs of the minor injury that shouldn't pose a problem in the Triple Crown's third jewel.

The unbeaten three-year-old colt is clearly the overwhelming class in the expected field of eight or nine horses lined up looking to play role of spoiler in the “Test of the Champion.”

The horse that many feel has the best chance to ruin Big Brown's entry into racing immortality is Japanese invader Casino Drive, who was bred in Kentucky by Shell Bloodstock out of the Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour. Casino Drive is a half-brother to Jazil and three-quarter sister of Rags to Riches. In 2006, Jazil won the Belmont Stakes and last year Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the race in 102 years.

Casino Drive is owned by Japanese business mogul Hidetoshi Yamamoto, and is trained by Kazuo Fujisawa. Yamamoto purchased the chestnut colt for $950,000 at the Keeneland 2006 September yearling sale.

Casino Drive won his debut by 11 1/2 lengths as the 1-5 favorite in a maiden race in Japan before shipping to the U.S. to run in the Peter Pan on May 10 at Belmont Park which he won by coming from off the pace to pull clear for a 5 3/4 lengths victory. Casino Drive performed more like a seasoned thoroughbred than a horse making his second career start in the win.

Ironically, jockey Kent Desormeaux rode Casino Drive in the Peter Pan. But Desormeaux, who won his third Derby and second Preakness aboard Big Brown as the most popular U.P.S. driver in the company's history, will again be in the saddle at the 2008 Belmont Stakes for an online horse wagering Triple Crown attempt in New York on June 7.

Edgar Prado, who has spoiled two of the past three Triple Crown tries, will get the mount on Casino Drive. Prado won the Belmont in 2002 aboard 70-1 Sarava, who was the highest-priced long shot in Belmont Stakes history, spoiling War Emblem’s Triple try. In 2004, he ended Smarty Jones’ Triple bid by winning the Belmont aboard Birdstone. Prado also won the Derby with Barbaro in 2006.

Casino Drive worked five furlongs in 1:12.52 over the main track at Belmont on Wednesday, but because it was such a slow time it will not be recorded by Equibase as an official workout. Jockey Yoshi Aoki told the colt's racing manager the horse didn't need a faster breeze.

Much of the online Triple Crown betting public is anticipating the Belmont to be a two-horse race between Big Brown and Casino Drive. But Big Brown's sixth career start in the 11/2-mile Belmont Stakes will be the furthest distance he's ever ran and third race in five weeks with now having hoof issues, which may or may not be a factor but still creates reason for concern. And, with Casino Drive making just his third career start at the same distance which he's never faced, he has the potential to lay an egg.

This could open the door for a horse such as Behindatthebar, who comes into the Belmont well rested, having been scratched from the May 17 Preakness due to a bruised left front foot. The Todd Pletcher trainee hasn’t raced since winning the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19.

Behindatthebar runs with a closing style that's fitting in longer distances, and his pedigree is made up of speed and stamina which is a perfect combination that makes him a legitimate contender in the Belmont.

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