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Big Brown has competition ahead Saturday, May 17, 2008 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - Readying for a Belmont confrontation with Big Brown, the people associated with Casino Drive made the oddest decision.<br/><br/>With plenty of top-notch jockeys available, they hired Kent Desormeaux to ride their horse last week in New York. That's like New York Jets' coach Eric Mangini sharing his playbook with the Patriots' Bill Belichick.<br/><br/>Desormeaux is the regular rider of Big Brown, who stands mane and shoulders above the field in today's Preakness. The 1-2 morning line favorite, Big Brown is expected to leave Baltimore still unbeaten. To become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, he will have to win the June 7 Belmont, and that's where the tale takes a twist. <br/><br/>Although he's had only two races and his first one was in Japan, Casino Drive is the horse most likely to derail Big Brown in New York. After he won the Peter Pan Stakes on May 10 by almost six lengths with Desormeaux aboard, the jockey called Casino Drive a phenomenal talent and added, "We got our hands full." We, as in Big Brown's contingent. Desormeaux even told his agent, "There's your competition, buddy ..."<br/><br/>Of course, Desormeaux will stick with Big Brown with a chance to duplicate the feat last accomplished by Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed.<br/><br/>Jockeys are the most independent of contractors, riding for an owner or trainer in one race and trying to beat those same folks 30 minutes later. You have to wonder if Desormeaux discovered any idiosycrancies during his 108-second excursion aboard Casino Drive. Good riders can do that. <br/><br/>Pat Day did it, including an occasion that was documented at Oaklawn Park. Day, who dominated at Hot Springs for years, rode the Joe Cantey-trained Eminency to victory in the Razorback Handicap in 1982 and 1983 and the Oaklawn Handicap in '82. Cantey had convinced jockey Bill Nemeti to leave New York and ride for him in Arkansas so when Nemeti recovered from a minor injury, he replaced Day aboard Eminency for the 1983 Oaklawn Handicap.<br/><br/>Day was aboard Bold Style for Jack Van Berg that day and rounding the first turn, he found himself close to Eminency who was galloping along on the lead. The way the story goes, Day knew Eminency could be headstrong so he leaned in the horse's direction and emitted a smooching sound. Eminency recognized the sound and responded, accelerating with Nemeti along for the ride.<br/><br/>Tired in the stretch, Eminency was caught by Bold Style and Day in the shadow of the wire.<br/><br/>Casino Drive was impressive in the Peter Pan, but there is a question about the quality of competition. The stamina needed for the 1 1-2-mile Belmont is not a question. Casino Drive is the son of the mare Better Than Honour, the mother of recent Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches. <br/><br/>The Belmont confrontation will lose luster if Big Brown fails in the Preakness, and the one most likely to pull off an upset is Arkansas Derby winner Gayego. The last time that colt was seen, he was a disappointing 17th in the Kentucky Derby with an excuse.<br/><br/>Breaking from the No. 19 gate, just inside Big Brown, Gayego was immediately steadied by Mike Smith and was never a factor. He had never been worse than second in five previous races and the fact that the colt did not overexert himself at 1 1-4-miles prompted trainer Paul Lobo to try Big Brown again.<br/><br/><br/><br/>----<br/><br/>Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> |
