A dislodged shoe on Big Brown's right back foot could be the reason the horse faltered so badly in the Belmont Stakes, Newsday reported Monday.

A photograph, which will appear in the June 21 edition of The Blood-Horse magazine, showed the horse's dislodged shoe, Newsday reported.

IEAH Stables co-president Michael Iavarone said he was e-mailed copies of the photos Saturday night, Newsday reported.

"The picture shocked me," Iavarone said, Newsday reported. "When the shoe spread, a nail could have been pinching him. Or he could have been stepping on a hot nail, which would have been worse. I'm guessing the nail went back in but not in the same spot. Or it could have been a loose shoe, which would be like trying to run with a wobbly cleat."

"Any of those things would be significant for a horse running a mile and a half. The (deep) track was my original explanation. But now I'm thinking the shoe was dislodged during the race and incorrectly reset while he was running."

Attention had focused after the race on Big Brown's left front hoof, which had a quarter crack treated before the race.

A veterinarian who works for Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow said the loose shoe could have been a problem, Newsday reported.

"When a shoe comes off, it does throw a horse out of balance, but it depends how traumatically it happens and at what stage of the race," Dr. Greg Bennett said, the newspaper reported. "A couple nails can loosen up, which can cause a lot of problems and affect a horse's performance.

"I'm not sure how much of an issue it was with Big Brown. Sometimes horses feel it after the race and are sore, but I'm not aware of that with Big Brown."

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