Casino Drive's Belmont Stakes appearance in doubt

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Unbeaten but lightly raced Casino Drive has a leg problem and could be scratched from the $1 million Belmont Stakes, the colt's connections said Friday.

The son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft was the second choice in the field of 10 for Saturday's race and was seen by many as the top rival to Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown.

Casino Drive did not go to the track at Belmont Park on Friday morning.

"He has a small issue with his left-hind leg and we were not happy," Nobutaka Tada, spokesman of owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, told reporters. "So, we did not go to the track.

"We have not yet scratched him from the race. We think it might be a small stone bruise and we will watch it closely."

Undefeated in two career starts, Casino Drive won the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 10.

"It was a small movement that we did not like," Tada said. "We want to run in the Belmont Stakes. He was bred for this race and that is why we are here.

"We are planning on running, but we have to be sure he is well."

Casino Drive, a 7-2 morning line choice, galloped on Belmont's muddy track Thursday but appeared uncomfortable.

Undefeated Big Brown is a 2/5 favorite to win the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

(Editing by Dave Thompson)