Casino Drive Leads Belmont Charge
Nine Upset-Minded Rivals, Led By Japan Colt, to Chase Big Brown
Jun 6, 2008
Brought in from Japan, Casino Drive, Peter Pan Stakes winner on May 10, is expected to lead the charge to try to topple Big Brown from his unbeaten status and wreck his attempt to become the twelfth American Triple Crown champion in history. Eight others, three of them total newcomers to the TC classics, will have their day to try to beat the world's most famous horse of the day on Saturday.
Entering the Belmont Stakes June 7:
Post Position No.1 --- Big Brown; trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr.; rider, Kent Desormeaux; owners, IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa, Jr.
- PP No.2 --- Guadalcanal; Fred Seitz; Javier Castellano; Seitz.
- PP No.3 --- Macho Again; Dallas Stewart; Garrett Gomez; West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc.
- PP No.4 --- Denis of Cork; David Carroll; Robby Albarado; Mr. & Mrs. William Warren.
- PP No.5 --- Casino Drive; Kazuo Fujisawa; Edgar Prado; Hidetoshi Yamamoto.
- PP No.6 --- Da' Tara; Nick Zito; Alan Garcia; Robert LaPenta.
- PP No.7 --- Tale of Ekati; Barclay Tagg; Eibar Coa; Charles Fipke.
- PP No.8 --- Anak Nakal; Zito; Julien Leparoux; Four Roses Thoroughbreds.
- PP No.9 --- Ready's Echo; Todd Pletcher; John Velazquez; Let's Go Stable.
PP No.10 --- Icabad Crane; H.Graham Motion; Jeremy Rose; Earle Mack.
Winning Odds: (No.1) -- 2-5; (No.2) -- 50-1; (No.3) -- 20-1; (No.4) -- 12-1; (No.5) -- 7-2; (No.6) -- 30-1; (No.7) -- 20-1; (No.8) -- 30-1; (No.9) -- 30-1; (No.10) -- 20-1.
Kentucky Derby Entrants: Big Brown -- winner; Denis of Cork -- 3rd; Tale of Ekati -- 4th; Anak Nakal -- 7th.
Preakness Stakes Entrants: Big Brown -- winner; Macho Again -- 2nd; Icabad Crane -- 3rd.
Belmont Stakes Newcomers: Guadalcanal -- 2nd in maiden special weight; Casino Drive -- winner in Peter Pan Stakes; Da'Tara -- 2nd in Barbaro Stakes; Ready's Echo -- 3rd in Peter Pan Stakes.
Major Jockey Changes: Edgar Prado gets the ride on Casino Drive over an earlier named Japanese rider. Robby Albarado saddles Denis of Cork, previously ridden to his Derby 3rd place finish by Calvin Borel.
List of Recent Belmont Stakes Losses After Wins in Derby, Preakness:
- 1979 -- Spectacular Bid, 3rd to Coastal
- 1981 -- Pleasant Colony, 3rd to Summing
- 1987 -- Alysheba, 4th to Bet Twice
- 1989 -- Sunday Silence, 2nd to Easy Goer
- 1997 -- Silver Charm, 2nd to Touch Gold
- 1998 -- Real Quiet, 2nd to Victory Gallop
- 1999 -- Charismatic, 3rd to Lemon Drop Kid
- 2002 -- War Emblem, 8th (after bad stumble from gate) to Sarava
- 2003 -- Funny Cide, 3rd to Empire Maker
- 2004 -- Smarty Jones, 2nd to Birdstone
Also losing in the Belmont Stakes after winning the first two classics: Canonero II (4th) to Pass Catcher, 1971; Majestic Prince (2nd) to Arts and Letters, 1969; Forward Pass (2nd) to Stage Door Johnny, 1968; Kauai King (4th) to Amberoid, 1966; Northern Dancer (3rd) to Quadrangle, 1964; Carry Back (7th) to Sherluck, 1961; Tim Tam (2nd) to Cavan, 1958; Pensive (2nd) to Bounding Home, 1944; Bold Venture, didn't start, 1936; Burgoo King, didn't start, 1932.
