Casino Drive: Putting the Pieces Together
The Connections of Casino Drive have finally picked a jockey, Edgar Prado, and the head trainer, Kazuo Fujisawa, is due to arrive from Japan in the coming days. As we enter the stretch run before the Belmont, it is time once again to review Big Brown's biggest challenger. Many now believe that if Big Brown beats Casino Drive, those who have questioned the quality of his competition will finally be silenced. It is fair to say that Casino Drive was born to win this race. Two of his siblings have won this race in the last two years. His half brother Jazil won the Belmont Stakes in 2006, and a year later his three-quarter sister Rags to Riches knocked off Curlin, becoming the first Filly in 102 years to win the mile and a half race. He is bred to run this distance as opposed to Big Brown, who's father Boundary never won a race longer than 3/4 of a mile. The start of Casino Drive's career was delayed due to knee injuries and some influenza quarantine issues, but has been impressive in his two starts. He won his maiden race in Japan on February 23 by 11 1/2 lengths and then conquered American soil winning at Belmont in the Peter Pan Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. The final piece of the puzzle may have come today when the connections announced that Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride the colt in the Belmont Stakes. Prado has won two Belmont Stakes. Both have come on long shot spoilers, ending War Emblem and Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bids.
The Canadian Press - May 28: Casino Drive a legitimate threat to Big Brown's Triple Crown bid
Casino Drive seems to have everything it takes to derail Big Brown's Triple Crown attempt in the Belmont Stakes a week from Saturday. His breeding shouts Belmont, his two career races have been breathtaking and he will be ridden by Edgar Prado, who has spoiled two of the past three Triple tries. The winning ingredients may be in place for the mystery horse from Japan, but Big Brown will be far from a pushover......more
Daily Racing Form - David Grening: Prado sounds spoiler alert again
....Prado, who turns 41 five days after the Belmont, will be in position to deny yet another Triple Crown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes when he rides the Kentucky-bred, Japanese-based Casino Drive against undefeated Big Brown, who is trying to snap Thoroughbred racing's 30-year Triple Crown drought. Adding more intrigue is the fact that Big Brown is trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., who employs Prado on a regular basis. According to Equibase statistics, Prado has ridden 268 of Dutrow's 1,221 career winners, or 22 percent......more
New York Times - Joe Drape - June 1: A Challenger From Japan Sets His Sights on Big Brown
....“It is the way we do things at home in Japan,” said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Casino Drive’s owner, Hidetoshi Yamamoto. “We warm up. We cool down. We are never in a hurry. We try to make sure he is a happy horse.” By 6:38 p.m. Saturday, the world will know whether this leisurely stamina building has paid off, and if Casino Drive was, indeed, the formidable obstacle that many expect him to be on Big Brown’s path to fame. By then the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes will be in the books, and thoroughbred racing will have its 12th Triple Crown champion. Or not......more
