LOUISVILLE, Ky. - David Carroll and Robby Albarado both know what it's like to play a part in major Belmont Stakes drama. Carroll was the everyday exercise rider for the 1989 Belmont winner, Easy Goer, and Albarado was narrowly beaten last year aboard Curlin when Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the race in more than a century.

This year, Carroll and Albarado are teaming together in the Belmont with Denis of Cork, one of the top threats to Big Brown in his quest for the Triple Crown.

Although all reports from the Big Brown camp on Friday were encouraging regarding his progress from a quarter crack in his left front foot, the list of horses that will challenge the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner in the 140th Belmont Stakes next Saturday continued to grow.

Trainer Nick Zito, who spoiled the last Triple Crown bid in 2004 when his Birdstone upset Smarty Jones, already had Anak Nakal pointed for the $1 million Belmont, and on Friday said he was giving serious consideration to running Da' Tara as well.

After two consecutive Triple Crown races that presented major hurdles to many horse racing fans seeking to watch and wager on the races and their undercards, the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York will offer wide-open viewing and betting opportunities.

Elliott Walden knows what Richard Dutrow Jr. is going through right now. Ten years ago, Walden held his breath following the Preakness Stakes, hoping a nasty skin rash would not prevent Victory Gallop, a colt Walden trained, from participating in the Belmont Stakes. Victory Gallop had finished second to Real Quiet in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but then missed training time with an ill-timed malady that left unsightly bumps on his left side. It wasn't a quarter crack, the injury that recently has befallen the Dutrow-trained Big Brown.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Edgar Prado is really a nice guy, but when it comes to the Triple Crown, the bad boy in him tends to come out.

Twice in a three-year period, Prado won the Belmont Stakes, and in each instance those victories denied a horse the opportunity to win the Triple Crown. In 2002, Prado guided 70-1 shot Sarava to victory in the Belmont when War Emblem was going for the Triple Crown. In 2004, Prado was aboard 36-1 shot Birdstone, who ran past the previously undefeated Smarty Jones in the stretch to deny that Triple Crown bid before a record crowd of 120,139.

ELMONT, N.Y. - If Big Brown's training session Wednesday morning was any indication, the quarter crack he suffered to his left front foot last week may turn out to be much ado about nothing.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Edgar Prado was officially named to ride Casino Drive in the June 7 Belmont Stakes, the colt's connections announced Wednesday afternoon.

Prado, who earlier this year was voted into racing's Hall of Fame, has twice won the Belmont, in both instances stopping Triple Crown bids. In 2002, Prado rode 70-1 Sarava to victory as the longest shot ever to win the race, defeating 6-5 favorite War Emblem. In 2004, Prado guided Birdstone to a 36-1 upset of previously undefeated and 3-5 favorite Smarty Jones.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown 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 is preparing for a start in the June 7 Belmont Stakes, where he will attempt to become Thoroughbred racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.

In an apparent indication that a quarter crack injury to his left front hoof is responding well to treatment so far, Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, went back to the track for a jog at Belmont Park on Tuesday, at least one day earlier than expected.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown suffered a slight quarter crack on the inside part of his left front foot, but his connections are confident it will not affect his ability to run in the June 7 Belmont Stakes where he will attempt to become Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.