NEW YORK -- OK, Big Brown. It's time for the big date with history.
All the obstacles in the colt's spectacular bid for the first Triple Crown in 30 years are fading faster than the pack in his Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victories.
Big Brown's quarter crack is patched and the sturdy hoof that helped him stampede to an undefeated record is as strong as ever.
The path to victory got even easier for Big Brown early Saturday when Casino Drive, the morning-line second choice in the Belmont, was scratched due to a bruise in his left hind foot.
Now only longshots and the grueling 1½-mile race stand between Big Brown and racing immortality.
Nothing has changed trainer Rick Dutrow's Jr's mind that the strapping bay colt will celebrate in the winner's circle at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and win the first Triple Crown in 30 years.
"He's just the coolest horse that ever lived," Dutrow said.
It's been 30 years since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become horse racing's 11th Triple Crown winner. The drought has left the sport starved to anoint a savior. Three times this decade a horse won the first two legs of the series only to get tripped up in the Belmont.
Triple Crown Brown has a nice ring to it and the nickname could be his by nightfall.
"I just kind of daydream about being in these situations," jockey Kent Desormeaux said. "I dream about how I would react, what I should do."
Desormeaux is trying to make amends for blowing his shot a decade ago at making Triple Crown history. He led Real Quiet to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, then the horse slowed down the stretch in the Belmont and lost by a nose to Victory Gallop.
Desormeaux still regrets the way he asked Real Quiet for an explosive early run.
"I think now I would do it differently," he said. "I know I won't make the same mistakes."
