Peter Pan: Casino Drive stops the show

Though most are conceding the Preakness Stakes to Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, the colt who pulled off a classic victory in his fourth lifetime start and will be a prohibited favorite to add the second leg of the Triple Crown to his short but flawless resume on Saturday, will – if indeed he leaves Pimlico in position to win the Triple Crown -- find a very good horse waiting at Belmont for the third leg who is even less experienced and perhaps equally talented.

American racing writers were outnumbered by their Japanese counterparts in the Belmont Park press box on Saturday. Next month, the Japanese media may arrive in New York by the planeload after Casino Drive crushed eight three-year-olds including his entrymate in the Peter Pan Stakes, his second career start after a February debut in Kyoto, which he won by 11 lengths at 1-5 odds. In the coming weeks, Casino Drive will be covered like Hideki Matsui. They might call this colt Godzilla, too.

It was an effort far more decisive than the 5 ¾-length margin or the running time for nine furlongs, 1:47.87, would suggest, the kind you were simply happy to have witnessed.

Casino Drive, by Mineshaft from the mare Better Than Honour, is half-brother to Jazil and three-quarter brother Rags to Riches, the 2006 Belmont winner and the filly who won the Belmont a year ago in the last victory and penultimate race of her career. He looks a good deal like his sister, a big, rangy chestnut. Entrymate Spark Candle, a $1.5-million yearling purchase, is a bit smaller, highly strung and not in the same league.

Casino Drive made only his second career start in the Peter Pan Stakes. His more experienced stablemate, who is by A.P. Indy from the champion mare Serena’s Song, prompted the early pace in the Peter Pan, perhaps a tip that he will play that role in the Belmont Stakes.

Casino Drive, rated by Kent Desormeaux in a stalking position behind the frontrunners after hesitating slightly at the start, split horses leaving the quarter pole and was in command in a matter of a few strides. Desormeaux, who also rides Big Brown, never moved on the colt inside the sixteenth pole. This was easily the most impressive effort by a three-year-old not named Big Brown to this point of the season and instantly adds a huge element of intrigue to the Belmont.

It is already established by hia older siblings that the Japanese colt will stay 12 furlong, the Belmont distance. “I certainly understand how Jazil and Rags to Riches won the Belmont,” Desormeaux said. “Yeah, he can run a lot. He’s a phenomenal talent and we’ve [he and Big Brown] got our hands full with this one. He’s got that stride.”

There is little English spoken in the Casino Drive camp. Nabutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management, spoke for owner Hidetoshi Yammamoto and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa.

“Today, he proved his ability,” Tada said. “He had so much to overcome: only one race, more than a two-month layoff, long trip and quarantine. Now, we will have three weeks to go to the Belmont Stakes and he has three weeks to improve. And, he has so much potential to improve. He likes it here. He feels like he’s at home. He’s an American-bred, so he is at home.”

Casino Drive was a bit unruly in the paddock, but had no need for the energy squandered before the race. “He’ll be okay next time,” Tada said.

Another sharp newcomer

Tom Albertrani removed the wraps from Unbridled Heart, who apparently failed to impress the clockers during training and got away at 13-1 in his debut on Saturday in the Darley Colors. The $1-million yearling was in control throughout 1 1/16 miles, drew away to a commanding lead in the stretch and hit the wire in 1:42.12, an impressive first-out performance. More to come from this late-developing colt.