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Horse Racing Betting: Big Brown update
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Horse Racing Betting at WagerWeb Racebook |
Here's your daily Big Brown update: The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner galloped 1 1/8 miles around Belmont Park's main track Wednesday morning, his most strenuous exercise since being diagnosed with a quarter crack in his left front foot last Friday.
Big Brown galloped well out in the center of the track, looking comfortable with his ears up and with exercise rider Michelle Nevin maintaining a stern hold of the reins.
"When we went out on the track he was bouncing a little bit; I didn't want him to be too strong or try and do too much, but he was very good," Nevin said. "The first furlong he was a little rough, then he settled right down, slowly relaxed, and let go of the bit.
"He felt great. He doesn't look or act like a horse who's had two big races back to back," Nevin said. "He's eating everything."
Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay sutured the crack on Monday, and McKinlay has been observing the situation closely.
"The foot has cooled out and he's getting pretty antsy. The best thing for him is to get him to the track and let him do what he wants to do," said McKinlay. "It's definitely improving. Both feet are the same temperature. When one foot is warmer than the other is when you have a problem. The skin is drying right out and the horse seems fabulous."
McKinlay repaired the small crack in the hoof wall Monday morning with steel sutures. He said that because the quarter crack is healing well on its own, he did no further work on it on Wednesday. By Friday, McKinlay expects to apply a patch with acrylic adhesive and fiberglass mesh.
"(Ian is) not going to let anything get away from us," trainer Rick Dutrow said. "He'll be around. I think he looks better now than he did for the Preakness."
In the 30 years since Affirmed joined the Triple Crown club in 1978, 10 horses won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to have their membership declined in the Belmont Stakes.
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