Casino Drive

I am a sucker for a well bred horse and there isn't a horse with a better pedigree than Casino Drive in this year Breeder's Cup Classic. Casino Drive is a 3 years old by Horse of the year Mineshaft and out of the 2007 Broodmare of the year Better Than Honour. He is the half-brother of the 2 Belmont Stakes winners (Jazil and Rags to Riches).

Casino Drive is based in Japan and was shipped to US to compete in the Belmont stakes earlier this year. After winner the Peter Pan Stakes as his prep, he injured his foot the night before Belmont and was scratched on race day. His connection shipped him back to Japan after the Belmont and start preparing him for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

I have no idea if this horse is good enough to win the Classic, as Curlin is clearly the horse to beat. Casino Drive was never asked in any of his races, it won all 3 starts with ease. His final prep race at Santa Anita was nothing more than a workout for him but it showed he likes the track. He won it by 3/4 length but was in control from start to finish. Check out the video below

If Casino Drive win this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, his trainer Kazuo Fujisawa deserve all the credit for getting this horse ready. In the history of the Breeders' Cup, I doubt there is another horse with a more unusual schedule before such a big race. He is more than likely to be over bet at the Classic and it is probably wishful thinking in my part to think he can beat Curlin or other more seasoned horses like Tiago and Student Council. But if he can run to his potential and Curlin fails to run his race on the Pro-Ride surface, Casino Drive is going to be very close at the finish.