In brief: Big Brown expected at Belmont despite injury

Big Brown’s perfect path has its first bump.

The unbeaten Triple Crown contender has a slight crack on his left front hoof, although trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was confident the injury won’t keep his colt from running in the Belmont Stakes in less than two weeks.

However, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner has missed two days of training at Belmont Park, and will miss at least several more while being treated by hoof specialist Ian McKinlay for a five-eighths of an inch long quarter crack on the inside of his left heel.

“We’re all concerned because there’s a big race coming up,” Dutrow said outside his barn. “But Ian has us pretty well relaxed. He’s telling me it’s nothing and he’ll be fine in a few days.”

Unlike the two-week turnaround between the Derby and the Preakness, there’s a three-week break before the Belmont on June 7.

“If it was two weeks we would be nervous, but this way I’m as cool as we can be,” Dutrow said. “It’s bad that this happened, but it’s good that it happened at this time.”

McKinlay has repaired injuries much more severe before big races, allowing Touch Gold to fight off a leg injury from the 1997 Preakness and go on to win the Belmont. This will be a much simpler task, he said.

“This is a very, very minor crack,” McKinlay assured. “We will put a set of wires in, stitch it up and then patch it.”

Big Brown is set to attempt to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978.

Basketball

Noah faces drug charge

Authorities in Gainesville, Fla., have charged Chicago Bulls forward and former Florida star Joakim Noah with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol.

Gainesville police spokesman Sgt. Rick Roberts says Noah was arrested around 1:50 a.m. Sunday after an officer spotted him on a sidewalk holding a plastic cup containing an amber drink, a violation of city law. During a search at the station, officers found marijuana in his pocket.

Noah was released after signing a notice to appear before a judge.

He could face up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine for the marijuana charge.

Miscellany

Fraud convict dead

A man convicted in a multimillion dollar investment fraud whose victims included pro football players has committed suicide in an Atlanta, Ga., jail.

Kirk Wright hanged himself Saturday in the Union City jail, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office, said.

The 37-year-old Wright was convicted Wednesday of leading an investment scheme that bilked millions of dollars from clients ranging from NFL players to his mother.

“At Towson, Md., Northwestern won its fourth consecutive women’s lacrosse national championship, avenging its only loss of the season with a 10-6 victory over Penn.

Hilary Bowen led Northwestern (21-1) with three goals and tied a tournament record with 17 overall.

Ali DeLuca led the Quakers (17-2) with two goals.