Casino Drive, the previously unbeaten Japanese 3-year-old colt who finished last after setting the early pace in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Oct. 25, will be flown back to Japan, said racing manager Nobutaka Tada from Hollywood Park Nov. 2.
Casino Drive came out of his three-quarter length victory at Santa Anita Oct. 12 in good order and is on course for the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Oct. 25.
Casino Drive, the Japan-based half-brother to two Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winners, cruised to an easy victory in a Santa Anita allowance race Oct. 12 to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Undefeated Casino Drive has been entered to run at Santa Anita on Oct. 12 in what his connections hope will lead to a start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Nobutaka Tada, managing director of the Japan-based stable that campaigns grade II stakes winner Casino Drive, announced June 24 that stable owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto has donated $30,000 to the Belmont Child Care Association's Anna House.
The following is a potpourri of stats, quotes, and anecdotes from the 140th Belmont Stakes, which provided plenty of excitement, controversy, and humor.
Casino Drive's quest to become the third straight Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner produced by his dam Better Than Honour failed when the colt suffered a stone bruise two days before the race. But this isn't the last we'll see of the son of Mineshaft, who will now point for the Breeders' Cup Classic(gr. I), with a prep beforehand.
Casino Drive, the second choice in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), did not go to the track Friday because of a problem with his left hind foot. His connections believe it might be a minor stone bruise. He has not been scratched from the race, in which Big Brown will attempt to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown remains "right on target" for the $1-million Belmont Stakes (gr. I), in which he will attempt to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner and the first in 30 years.
Nobutaka Tada, spokesperson for the connections of Casino Drive, said the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) winner was "50-50" to breeze on Wednesday in preparation for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto, said consideration has been given to Japanese, European, and American riders, but no decision will be made for "four or five days," on who will ride Casino Drive in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr.I).
Casino Drive came out of his victory in the Peter Pan (gr. II) May 10 at Belmont Park as effortlessly and professionally as raced in his United States debut. Now, he is ready to tackle the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 7.
After a 12-hour trans-Pacific journey, including a one-hour lay-over in Anchorage, Alaska, and a brief stint at Aqueduct to clear quarantine, three Japan-based horses -- Casino Driver, Champagne Squall, and Spark Candle -- have begun to settle in at Barn 17 at Belmont Park.
A pair of weanlings--a filly and a colt--stole the show Nov. 7 during the second session of the 14-day Keeneland November breeding stock sale, with both establishing record-price marks.
A strapping filly from the first crop of the Kingmambo stallion King Kamehameha smashed the world record for a foal or weanling sold at public auction Tuesday in Japan.
A Pivotal colt from the family of Japanese Horse of Year Deep Impact brought 205 million yen ($1,798,245) during the Japan Racing Horse Association yearling sale at the Northern Horse Park Monday.
For once, hype can take a back seat at the three-day meeting at York, England which starts Tuesday. With the first four horses in the betting trained in Ireland, Italy, Japan, and England, the Juddmonte International (Eng-I) is a race that really does live up to its name.
Slew the World could be an appropriate name for a 2-year-old Seattle Slew colt who most recently finished second in a turf stakes at Tokyo Race Course on Nov. 26.
