Big Brown ready to claim Triple Crown, trainer says

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Belmont Stakes is a proven graveyard for Triple Crown contenders but Big Brown's trainer said on Friday he was convinced the punishing distance would have no effect on his unbeaten and still untested colt.

"I think it will work to our advantage," Richard Dutrow, Jr. told reporters as he discussed Saturday's tough mile-and-a-half affair at Belmont Park.

"In all of his races, all you've got to do is watch him from the eighth pole to where the pony boy has to pull him up. You just can't imagine that this race is going to be too far for him."

Big Brown breezed through the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and is a prohibitive 2/5 favorite in the Belmont in his quest to become racing's 12th Triple Crown champion.

However, 18 horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown series only to see their dreams of equine immortality dashed on the overwhelming stretch drive at Belmont Park.

Even Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, lost his previous Triple Crown shot in 1998 when Real Quiet was worn down in the final strides of the Belmont and was edged by Victory Gallop.

Dutrow is undeterred, saying he has the class act of the three-year-old crop in his stable.

"Our horse is going to show up," he told a horde of reporters outside Big Brown's barn. "Anybody that is going to try to beat him, they're going to have to run the race of their life, something you've never seen out of him before."

Big Brown's task was potentially made easier when it was revealed that Saturday's second favorite, the 7/2 Casino Drive, has a problem with his left hind leg and may scratch.

"He's not running against a real tough crowd and he is a really good horse," Dutrow said of Kentucky-bred Big Brown, a comfortable winner in each of his five starts. "That's helped him make things look so easy in his races.

"I still haven't seen another three-year-old step up to where he is supposed to give Big Brown a run for his money. We went into all of the major races. We haven't ducked any horses.

"And still no one has shown up yet. Hopefully that continues."

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has a couple of 30-1 longshots running in the Belmont, Anak Nakal and Da' Tara. While Zito concedes Big Brown is the favorite, he said anything was possible.

He should know, having saddled Birdstone to a stunning upset victory in the 2004 Belmont, dashing the Triple Crown hopes of Smarty Jones following a dramatic stretch duel.

"This race is a mile-and-a-half," the New York native said. "Those eighths of a mile, you've got to keep going each eighth until the end. So you never know what can happen."

(Editing by Dave Thompson)