Quote:
Originally Posted by birdsfan5
Well that Peter Pan was a very nice race for Casino Drive off a long layoff  |
Read in the NY Post today where Dutrow has a sort of blog called "Belmont Diary" he's writing for them that he feels Casino Drive is one horse that is tough but he thinks only two career starts is a problem (seems hypocritcal seeing how Big Brown only had three prior to the Derby), and he wrote "Most of the time, when horses fly from abroad and they are in quarantine, they run good off the plane but their next race is never so strong. I don't know why, but that's usually how it goes. I'm not afraid of him."
On the weak 3 year old crop and dearth of competition Dutrow says "The level of competition is helping us. We didn't have to run a tough race in the Preakness. I have only seen three horses that Big Brown would have to run against to show he's better." Those three are Harlem Rocker, Lieutenent Ron, and Casino Drive. Of Casino Drive he flat out says "I'd like to have that horse (in my stable) yes, but I don't think he can beat Big Brown. He doesn't have the quick turn (of foot)".
Lastly, he says that if Big Brown wins Belmont that he will run him only twice more - at Saratoga for the Travers and in the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita. The Haskell at Monmouth Park isn't an option for Big Brown he says. The Classic would pit him against Curlin which is the industry's dream right now, I'd imagine.