NEW YORK — A hoof specialist changed the steel sutures in Big Brown's foot Saturday and said the unbeaten colt remains on target for the Belmont Stakes in a bid for the Triple Crown.

"When you push on it now, he doesn't even feel it," hoof specialist Ian McKinlay said from Belmont Park.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will go for thoroughbred racing's biggest prize June 7 in the 1½-mile Belmont.

There was concern when Big Brown missed three days of training this week with a slight crack on the inside of the left front hoof. McKinlay inserted steel sutures Monday to pull the crack together.

"We put in a new set of wires and drew it down nice and tight," he said. "The little spot gets harder day by day."

McKinlay also intensified the solution of alcohol and iodine to ward off possible infection.

"We changed the solution and made it a little stronger," McKinlay said. "By Monday, it should be in fabulous shape."