Big Brown favored to complete Triple Crown

ELMONT, New York (Reuters) - Big Brown attempts to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years when he faces nine rivals in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

If the unbeaten son of Boundary can win the punishing mile-and-a-half affair at Belmont Park he would become thoroughbred racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.

Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay applied an acrylic and fiberglass patch to a quarter crack on the left-front hoof of Big Brown during a 40-minute procedure on Friday.

"The patch is on and everything looked perfect," McKinlay told reporters.

"There were no problems whatsoever... It's time for history."

Big Brown, unbeaten in five career starts, opened at 2/5 odds but had shortened to 1/5 by Friday evening.

Unbeaten but lightly raced Casino Drive, suffering from a possible bruise on his left hind leg, was the second choice in the 10-horse field at 7/2.

Casino Drive's connections said the colt would run if his condition did not worsen.

A son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, Casino Drive traveled from Japan after a maiden victory and then won the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes on May 10 at Belmont Park.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by John O'Brien)