UH OH…

Before you bet butt-loads of money on Big Brown to win the 2008 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, READ THIS. Big Brown, the undefeated Triple Crown contender is hurt. You read it people, turns out that the dominant thoroughbred has a slight crack on his left front hoof, just when you thought we’ll finally have a Triple Crown winner for sure.

After winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in convincing fashion, Big Brown had his first speed bump, if you will, in his quest for horse racing’s holy grail after a slight crack on his front hoof was discovered by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.

Although Dutrow believes the injury shouldn’t stop the colt from running the 140th Belmont Stakes, he can’t help but to still be concerned about it. ‘’We’re all concerned because there’s a big race coming up,'’ Dutrow said outside his barn. ‘’But Ian (McKinlay) has us pretty well relaxed. He’s telling me it’s nothing and he’ll be fine in a few days.'’

Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been treating Big Brown’s injury hoping that it won’t slow down the colt in his quest to win the 2008 Triple Crown series. After winning the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown trail, it would be a shame if Big Brown goes out this way. The colt already missed two days of training at Belmont Park and is expected to miss at least several weeks more.

Fortunately for these guys, there’s a three-week break from the 2008 Preakness Stakes heading to Belmont Park, unlike the two-week turnaround we saw between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

‘’If it was two weeks we would be nervous, but this way I’m as cool as we can be,'’ Dutrow said. ‘’It’s bad that this happened, but it’s good that it happened at this time.'’

‘’The worst case is he doesn’t make the race,'’ Dutrow adds. ‘’The horse is in great shape. He doesn’t know anything is wrong with him. When you touch it and put pressure on it, he’s going to give. But the worst possible thing that could happen is he doesn’t make the race, and that will only hurt human beings. Not him. He’s laying back, not worried about anything.'’

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

Big Brown wins the 2008 Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown - 1.36

Big Brown loses in the 2008 Belmont Stakes - 3.00

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