As of press time, Big Brown’s people claims the Triple Crown contender is OK.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown went back to the track, jogging once around Belmont Park’s 1 1/2-mile oval after hurting his front left foot heading to the last leg of the Triple Crown trail, the 140th Belmont Stakes.

Big Brown, who had missed three days of training after being diagnosed with a quarter crack in his left front hoof, practiced at Belmont Park, probably with false hope that the injury won’t stop the colt from winning the 2008 Triple Crown series title.

‘’He looks like an absolute picture,'’ trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said after his Triple Crown contender resumed training while recovering from the front hoof injury. ‘’You would never think that he would look this good after what he’s been through, running so often and shipping, flying. He just looks unbelievable.'’

Sure he does.

Dutrow wants us to believe that Big Brown appears set for his attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner at the 2008 Belmont Stakes on June 7. However, with other HEALTHY thoroughbreds looking to win at Belmont Park, will you still put your money on an injured colt? Even if the colt IS this year’s only Triple Crown contender?

‘’As we are right now, I’d have to say yes, because I know our horse will be fixed, if not tomorrow, the next day,'’ Dutrow said. ‘’It’s not a big deal. And we will be able to put our breeze in one time and that’s all that I think that we really should have to do.'’

Richard Dutrow Jr. said the unbeaten Big Brown could have his final serious workout at the 1 ½-mile Belmont track soon, depending on the weather. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay stitched up the crack with stainless steel wire, and the injury, according to Big Brown’s camp, is healing rapidly.

Big Brown has won all five of his races by a combined 39 lengths, including the Derby by 4 ¾ lengths and the Preakness by 5 lengths. The colt was so dominant, both margins could have been wider but jockey Kent Desormeaux didn’t need to ask his horse to run any harder than necessary in the stretch.

‘’That was by design,'’ Dutrow said. ‘’If you have the overwhelming horse, why go out there and show everybody? Get the job done and let’s get them next time. You got to save horse.'’

The question now is, can he save Big Brown and his 2008 Triple Crown series title bid with a nagging injury like this? Only time can tell.

Can Big Brown win the 2008 Triple Crown series with a win at the 2008 Belmont Stakes? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Big Brown 1.33

Casino Drive 4.50

Denis Of Cork 11.00

Tale Of Ekati 21.00

Behindatthebar 26.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more horse race betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

2008 Belmont Stakes Big Brown