NEW YORK — OK, Big Brown. It's time for the big date with history.

All the obstacles in the colt's spectacular bid for the first Triple Crown in 30 years are fading faster than the pack in his Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victories.

Big Brown's quarter crack is patched and the sturdy hoof that helped him stampede to an undefeated record is as strong as ever. Big Brown's biggest challenger is injured with a suspect hind hoof, leaving mostly longshots in a lackluster field.

Up ahead, the chance to knock off Affirmed from his spot as the sport's last Triple Crown winner.

Nothing has changed trainer Rick Dutrow's Jr's mind that the strapping bay colt will celebrate in the winner's circle at the Belmont Stakes Saturday and win the first Triple Crown in 30 years.

"He's just the coolest horse that ever lived," Dutrow said.

It's been 30 years since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become horse racing's 11th Triple Crown winner. The drought has left the sport starved to anoint a savior. Three times this decade a horse won the first two legs of the series only to get tripped up on Belmont's grueling 1Z\x-mile track.

Triple Crown Brown has a nice ring to it and the nickname could be his by nightfall.

"I just kind of daydream about being in these situations," jockey Kent Desormeaux said. "I dream about how I would react, what I should do."

Desormeaux is trying to make amends for blowing his shot a decade ago at making Triple Crown history. He led Real Quiet to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, then the horse slowed down the stretch in the Belmont and lost by a nose to Victory Gallop.

Desormeaux still regrets the way he asked Real Quiet for an explosive early run.

"I think now I would do it differently," he said. "I know I won't make the same mistakes."

The other nine rivals haven't been given much of a chance to spoil the bid, and Casino Drive, the early second choice, was scratched Saturday morning because of a bruised left hind hoof.

Racing manager Nobutaka Tada said Casino Drive was fine during a three-furlong jog early Saturday, but he appeared to be favoring the hoof while receiving a bath following the workout.

Tada said the decision to scratch the Peter Pan Stakes winner was a precautionary measure.

He classified the injury as minor, but didn't want to take any chances during the grueling 1Z\x-mile race.

The horse will be shipped back to Japan on Tuesday, but could return later this year to run in the Breeders' Cup.

Dutrow has trash talked the competition since the start of the Triple Crown season and he easily dismissed Casino Drive's chances — even with four good hoofs.

"I don't think that Casino Drive's got any chance at all," Dutrow said Friday.

Maybe so, but plenty of experts around the barn thought Smarty Jones would win the Belmont and sweep the Triple Crown in 2004. But Nick Zito's Birdstone caught a fading Smarty Jones in the final 70 yards and thwarted the run.

Weird things happen all the time in races. Horses stumble or get distracted, a jockey moves too soon, or doesn't leave enough oomph in the horse for the stretch run, which can screw up even the best plan.

Big Brown is seeking to join Seattle Slew (9-0 in 1977) as the only undefeated Triple Crown winners. He's won all five of his races by a combined 39 lengths.

Dutrow will not let Big Brown hit the track for a short run through the stretch early Saturday like he did the morning of the Preakness.

The first time Big Brown takes the long walk toward the track, he'll be led to the starting gate. Only a few minutes later, the sport will either have its savior — or just another dream that ended too soon.

"I'm Peter Pan flying off to the clouds," Desormeaux said. "That's how the dream ends."