Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow is at it again. He is extremely confident Big Brown will become only the 12th Triple Crown winner. "I feel that he will do it," Dutrow said. "I feel that it's a foregone conclusion. I've seen the horses he's been with; I've seen our horse. I expect him to win this race."

Dutrow has never been shy about stating his opinions, saying that Big Brown would have no trouble winning the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness.

Some people have said that Big Brown could get a challenge in the Belmont from the Japanese horse Casino Drive but Dutrow doesn’t believe that to be the case. "This Japanese horse, he's got so much to prove," he said. "I don't know if he's on top of his game. I'm getting different reports from people. I would not depend on that horse to be second."

Although Dutrow is not worried about Casino Drive there is a little bit of history that should concern him. Edgar Prado is the jockey for Casino Drive and Prado knows how to ruin Triple Crown bids. In 2002, he was aboard 70-1 longshot Sarava who upset War Emblem and in 2004 he was aboard 36-1 longshot Birdstone, who ruined the Triple Crown hopes of Smarty Jones.

Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches was injured in Saturday’s Gazelle Stakes, suffering a hairline fracture to her right front pastern.  She will not race again this year.  Rags to Riches finished 2nd in the Gazelle to Lear’s Princess and it is believed that she sustained the injury in the stretch run.  The injury means Rags to Riches will not run in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff next month.

Rags to Riches is expected to rest for at least six weeks before the injury is re-evaluated but she is expected to race again as a four year old. Trainer Todd Pletcher expects Rags to Riches to make a full recovery. "The injury is not career ending, and she is expected to make a full recovery," Pletcher said, "It appears as though she sustained the injury during the stretch run. When she switched to the right lead, she came off the bridle and lugged in a bit.

Though she cooled out fine following the race she appeared to be slightly off this morning. Subsequent X-rays discovered the hairline fracture. She is resting comfortably and will ship to Ashford Stud tomorrow where she will receive six weeks of stall rest to give the fracture time to heal. At the conclusion of her convalescence she will be re-X-rayed to determine when she will resume training. She will not race again until 2008."

Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches will not race in this weekend’s Ruffian at Belmont Park but is expected to run in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Gazelle Stakes, also at Belmont Park.  The Gazelle will set up Rags to Riches perfectly for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 27th.  The $250,000 Gazelle is restricted to 3-year-old fillies and is run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn.

"She missed one work," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "This provides us the opportunity to make up the work without compromising on the other end. The six weeks to the Breeders' Cup is actually ideal." The Gazelle and the Ruffian look like they will have short fields.  This Saturday's Ruffian may only have five or six horses in the field.

In other horse racing news, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense was back at Churchill Downs getting ready for a prep race later this month.  The big question is which prep race it will be. Trainer Carl Nafzger has not decided yet where Street Sense will race next.  The next race will be the final prep for Street Sense for the October 27th Breeders’ Cup Classic.  "He'll walk a day, gallop a couple days, and then we'll look at what we're doing about a work," said Nafzger.