Did you know that Big Brown, now at the cusp of making history, is named after the United Parcel Service, the parcel-transporting giant?  UPS employees wear brown uniforms and the trucks are painted brown. Until early March, Big Brown was an unknown colt who had won in his debut as a freshman at Saratago Race Course in New York. Joining Rick Dutrow’s barn in Florida, Big Brown won an entry level allowance with the utmost ease. Then came the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Big Brown defied every statistic that said he could not win. The next stop was Churchill Downs in Louisville. The post was 20 and it was chosen by trainer Rick Dutrow. The Derby was turned into a no contest.

The Preakness was only Big Brown’s fifth career start. Bet down to 20 cents on the dollar, Big Brown ran away with the second jewel of the American Triple Crown. He took a van ride from Baltimore to Belmont Park in Long Island, New York and there was as much security as a visiting Head of State would have expected.

The date with destiny is not until Saturday, June 7. The Belmont Stakes is over 2400 metres. The last Triple Crown champion was Affirmed in 1978. In 1977, Seattle Slew accomplished the feat. Secretariat swept the three-race series in 1973. A Big Brown win in the Belmont Stakes would make him the 12th winner of the coveted Triple Crown.

Rick Dutrow has said, “I don’t see anybody beating him. The Japanese colt does not have  Big Brown’s turn of foot.”

The Japanese colt Rick Dutrow is referring to is Casino Drive. A winner in his debut in Japan, Casino Drive made an appearance in the Grade II Peter Pan at Belmont Park on May 10. Made the 5-4 favorite, Casino Drive, in the hands of Kent Desormeaux, was held up and stormed home when let loose in the stretch. A Mineshaft colt, Casino Drive will be making his third career start in the Belmont Stakes. Casino Drive’s dam is Better Than Honour. Here is an exciting angle. Better Than Honour is the dam of Rags To Riches who won the Belmont last year. Another son of Better Than Honour, Jazil, was victorious in the 2006 Belmont Stakes.

In the Peter Pan, Kent Desormeaux rode Casino Drive. Jockey Desormeaux is Big Brown’s regular rider. Yutaka Take rode Casino Drive when the colt won in Japan. Jockey Take has a contractual obligation to be in Tokyo on June 8. If he rides in the Belmont in New York on June 7, he will not be able to get to Tokyo on time for his Sunday commitment.

Three American riders are being considered. John Velasquez is one. The second is the incomparable Edgar Prado. Ramon Dominguez is also in the reckoning.

The British bookmaking fraternity is offering 2-5 on Big Brown. Half money, in my view, is a possibility in the Belmont Stakes only because the New York fans were witness to Casino Drive’s flawless showing in the Peter Pan, a trial for the Belmont.

On Saturday, the first Irish Classic will be held at the Curragh. New Approach and Henrythenavigator were separated in a photo in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3. New Approach and Kevin Manning tried to cling to a fast-diminishing lead. Henrythenavigator and John Murtagh made up ground steadily and won in the shadow of the wire.

New Approach is the 11-8 favorite and Henrythenavigator is at 13-8. Six others go postward and are at longer odds. One of the runners is Nownownow who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile Mile at Monmouth Park last October.

It is going to be another nip and tuck duel. New Approach suffered the first defeat of his career in the English 2000 Guineas. Henrythenavigator, highly regarded, has come to hand. John Murtagh has already won two Group I events for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

On Sunday, the Irish 1000 Guineas is the feature at the Curragh. I will have more on this race tomorrow.

On Saturday, Belmont Park hosts the Grade II Sheepshead Bay Handicap to be run on the grass.  Eight distaffers will answer the starter’s call. Mauralakana, Kent Desormeaux up, is the 2-1 favorite. J’Ray ran second to Mauralakana the last time they met and is listed at 5-2.

Arlington Park in Chicago has three stakes on Saturday. The $200,000 American 1000 Guineas Stakes over  (turf)  1600 metres has ten runners. The race is for sophomore fillies. Much Obliged, Scolara and Dreaming Of Liz head the market.

The Arlington Classic over 1700  metres (turf) has attracted ten sophomores. Sporting Art, to be ridden by Rene Douglas, is the 2-1 choice. It is a $150,000 purse.

The third big event at Arlington will be run on the polytrack. It is the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Stakes for three year-olds and up. Eight horses go to post and Spotsgone, Earlie Fires up, is the 5-2 pick.

The French Derby is on Sunday June 1. The Epsom Oaks and the Derby will be run on June 6 and June 7 respectively.