Casino Drive Is Scratched Because of Leg Injury

ELMONT, N.Y., June 7 -- Casino Drive, the horse expected to provide the main competition for Big Brown, was scratched the morning of the Belmont Stakes by his Japanese connections. Spokesman Nobutaka Tada said Friday that the colt, whose siblings Jazil and the filly Rags to Riches won the prior two Belmonts, had shown discomfort in his hind legs and perhaps had a slight bruise.

On Saturday morning, trainer Kazuo Fujisawa sent Casino Drive to the track for a canter and didn't like what he saw.

"He came back well to the stable, but later he started favoring his left hind again," Tada said. "It's not serious, just a small stone bruise, and he will be fine. But the timing is terrible."

Casino Drive was the only other undefeated horse in the field besides Big Brown. He had won a maiden race in Japan and the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in his second start.

Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, rode Casino Drive in the Peter Pan and said the horse was the only viable challenger to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner.

Hot and Bothered

With the temperature higher than 90 degrees, the water pressure at Belmont Park forced the closure of some bathrooms, left toilets backing up and created long lines of angry patrons. Several men's restrooms had women using them because of the lines. After several hours, by 4:30 p.m., the water pressure began to be restored, albeit at a diminished level.

New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward and John Tierney, vice president of facilities, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Dutrow Wins Early

Big Brown's trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr., got a big win early on the card when his top sprinter, Benny the Bull, surged dramatically in the final yards to overcome Man of Danger and win the Grade II $250,000 True North Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

The winner, ridden by Edgar Prado, won the De Francis Dash in November at Laurel, took a stakes race in January at Gulfstream Park and then traveled to Dubai to take the $2 million Golden Shaheen, the world's richest sprint.

On Friday, Dutrow had said he might not even saddle Benny the Bull, preferring to spend the day with Big Brown, but he made his way to the winner's circle after the victory.

"I wasn't concerned about him coming into this race off his Dubai win because he had been training so well," Dutrow said. "I was more concerned with him at the eighth pole that he wouldn't win."

Indian Blessing Upset

The 2007 juvenile filly champion Indian Blessing, who was given a three-month vacation after suffering her first loss in March, was defeated again Saturday in the Grade I $250,000 Acorn.

Zaftig, a 3-year-old gray daughter of Gone West, stalked the fast pace of Indian Blessing and took over at the top of the stretch, pulling away powerfully to win by 4½ lengths. Under jockey John Velazquez, Zaftig won the mile race in a sharp time of 1:34.50.

"She got beat by a nice filly," said Indian Blessing's trainer, Bob Baffert. "You hate to lose, but she ran her race. I thought I had her relaxed enough so she would kick on, but she won't do that. She's like, 'Point me in the right direction, and I'll give it to you.' You can't be mad at her for what she's done. We're disappointed, but we're not disgusted."

The victory elevated Zaftig, who has made just five starts, near the top of the class of 3-year-old fillies.

"Every time the filly tried to sprint away from her, we were right on her again," said Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Zaftig. "I think she can go farther. There are a lot of great races for 3-year-old fillies out there."