Saturday’s $200,000 Peter Pan S. (G2) has been a customary stepping stone to
the June 7 Belmont S. (G1), but Japanese shipper CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft) is
attempting a feat anything but customary. A sibling of the past two Belmont
winners, Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold), Casino Drive
is using the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan as a prep for an unprecedented three-sibling
sweep of the 1 1/2-mile classic.
The Kentucky-bred Casino Drive is out of Grade 2 heroine Better Than Honour
(Deputy Minister). The chestnut colt was bought by Nobutaka Tada, on behalf of
Hidetoshi Yamamoto, for $950,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale,
just about three months after Jazil captured the 2006 Belmont. At the time, few
could have envisioned that the yearling’s three-quarter sister, the maiden Rags
to Riches, would go on to make history by earning a hard-fought Belmont victory
the following season, becoming the first filly in 102 years to win that coveted
prize. Not only did Rags to Riches seal champion three-year-old filly honors for
herself, but she also secured the Broodmare of the Year title for her dam.
Handed over to master horseman Kazuo Fujisawa in Japan, Casino Drive has
faced the starter only once. In a nine-furlong maiden on February 23 at Kyoto,
he romped by 11 1/2 lengths on a dirt track labeled good. Casino Drive has drawn
the rail for his American debut, where he will face his first serious test of
class. Kent Desormeaux picks up the mount.
Casino Drive will be coupled in the wagering with his stablemate, SPARK
CANDLE (A.P. Indy). A son of champion and $3.2 million earner Serena’s Song (Rahy),
the robust chestnut was a $1.5 million Keeneland September yearling purchase.
The Kentucky-bred colt broke his maiden in a 1 1/4-mile turf event last October,
but he faded to 12th in his only prior attempt on dirt. Jorge Chavez will guide
Spark Candle, who will add blinkers.
Unlike the Japanese duo, TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]) did not hold much appeal
at Keeneland September. When prospective buyers looked at the bay, all they saw
was an awkward, barrel-chested colt who, frankly, walked like a duck. When
trainer Dante Zanelli Jr. looked at the yearling, he saw something more.
“I saw a Derby horse,” said Zanelli, who paid $7,500 for the colt and sent
him to his uncle in Peru after failing to find a taker. “His walk was not the
prettiest, but he had such a nice stride.
“He’s been special since Day 1,” Zanelli added.
In Peru, Tomcito began his career beating older horses at the age of two. He
won four of five starts, including the final two legs of the country’s Triple
Crown going about 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles, respectively, at Monterico
Racetrack.
Tomcito made his U.S. bow in the Florida Derby (G1), finishing third behind
subsequent Kentucky Derby star Big Brown (Boundary). Unfortunately, Tomcito
failed to earn enough graded money to enter the Run for the Roses when he
finished sixth as the favorite in the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland.
“The Lexington wasn’t that bad, considering he gave six pounds to everyone
and the Polytrack was not to his liking,” Zanelli noted. “The ride wasn’t what
we expected, either. He didn’t run a terrible race, but he didn’t make any money.
It’s too bad, because I think he would have run a heck of a race in the Derby.”
Tomcito was one of four who did not make the cut when entered for the
Kentucky Derby, but the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown is definitely on his
schedule. Bypassing the Preakness because of Pimlico’s reputation for tight
turns, Zanelli targeted the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, a distance at which Tomcito has
already won.
“The bigger the track, the better,” Zanelli said. “We are hoping to have a
good showing on Saturday that will set us up for the Belmont. That’s the goal.”
Tomcito, the 120-pound highweight, will get a rider switch to Cornelio
Velasquez.
The Peter Pan also features GOLDEN SPIKES (Seeking the Gold), most recently
runner-up in the Illinois Derby (G2); MINT LANE (Maria’s Mon), who just missed
in the Federico Tesio S. last time out; the Todd Pletcher-trained READY’S ECHO
(More Than Ready), a sharply rallying second in a deep Keeneland allowance; and
Phipps Stable homebred COSMIC (El Prado [Ire]), a son of champion Heavenly Prize
(Seeking the Gold) who brings a two-race winning streak into his stakes debut.
“His last three races have been pretty good,” said trainer Shug McGaughey of
Cosmic, who broke his maiden going nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park and then
took an allowance/optional claimer at the same distance at Aqueduct. “We’ll see
how he sizes up with these. At the point we are not aiming for the Belmont, but
it’s certainly up for discussion.”
The field for the 55th running of the Peter Pan, in post position order,
comprises Casino Drive; Tomcito; Mint Lane, Eibar Coa; DEPUTYVILLE (Deputy
Warlock), Jose Espinoza; Spark Candle; Golden Spikes, Edgar Prado; Ready’s Echo,
John Velazquez; Cosmic, Javier Castellano; and FAST TALKING (Hennessy), Alan
Garcia.
With the exception of Tomcito, each of the others will tote 116 pounds.
One race before the Peter Pan, seven older sprinters will clash over six
furlongs in the $100,000
Bold
Ruler H. (G3). Top contenders include EXECUTIVE FLEET (Northern Afleet), who
was second in the Carter H. (G1) in his latest venture; multiple Grade 2-placed
FOREFATHERS (Gone West); the uncoupled Bruce Levine pair of Toboggan H. (G3)
runner-up MAN OF DANGER (Tiger Ridge) and commanding allowance/optional claiming
winner CALLMETONY (Runaway Groom); and the once-beaten LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky
Roberto) from the Kiaran McLaughlin barn.