The world’s richest race will be run at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday, and the $6 million Dubai World Cup has attracted a wide open international cast.
Casino Drive appears poised for glory in this spot. I fancied the Japanese colt when he came to the US last year, and he has come into his own in ‘09 after an ambitious 3yo campaign. He owns fine positional speed and should enjoy this distance.
Albertus Maximus was my top in BC Dirt Mile and Donn, and he is thriving for Kiaran McLaughlin. He gets a distance test today.
Asiatic …read more

Eclipse Awards
Curlin repeated as Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Award ceremonies. The recently retired all-time North American money earner stands at Lane’s End Farm with a $75k stud fee. Undefeated miss Zenyatta took home Older Female honors.

Big Brown was unanimously voted 3yo Champion, and Proud Spell took down 3yo filly honors over her late stablemate Eight Belles.
As expected, Midshipman is the Juvenile Champ, and Stardom Bound nabbed Juvenile Filly honors.
The other equine Eclipse Awards went to Conduit (Turf Male), Forever Together (Turf Female), Benny the Bull (Male Sprinter), Indian Blessing (Female Sprinter), and Good Night …read more

Below are post positions, morning line odds, and notes for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run at ten furlongs over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on October 25, 2008.
Santa Anita Race 9: Grade 1 BC Classic, 3up, 10f
(1) Go Between (8-1) – Fresh synthetic specialist is training well for this. Garrett Gomez chose this one over Colonel John.
(2) Casino Drive (10-1) – Japanese runner is 3-3, and the $950k purchase is well-bred and has a world of potential.
(3) Tiago (15-1) – Mike Smith/John Shirreffs teamed up to win yesterday’s Ladies’ Classic with Zenyatta. He finished 2nd …read more

Curlin breezed four furlongs in :49.60 on October 20th, and his stablemate Student Council continues to impress in morning drills, this time getting a half-mile in :48.18 while full of run. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride the latter.
Pyro, the 3rd member of the Steve Asmussen express, worked a pedestrian 4f in :51.17. Julien Leparoux has picked up the mount.
In other Classic news, Mast Track developed a quarter crack on Monday and has been eliminated from Cup consideration. The Frankel trainee was expected to set the pace in the Classic.
Robert Frankel will be represented in the Classic …read more

Curlin, fresh off a sharp five furlong drill over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface in between races on October 13th, has been pre-entered for a Breeders’ Cup Classic title defense on Oct. 25th. His five furlong work on Monday (pictured above) was completed in :59.11 while in company with Hawaii Calls.
Steve Asmussen also sent out Classic contender Student Council on Monday, and he drilled six furlongs in 1:12.40 under Shaun Bridgmohan.
Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown’s Classic hopes were dashed with a career ending injury to his right front heel following a turf work at Aqueduct on Oct. 13th. The …read more

Three-year-old Colonel John, last seen winning the Travers Stakes by a scant nose, breezed four furlongs in :46.80 over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on Oct. 8th. The entire sophomore division could be in trouble versus older company, but the Colonel, an improving son of Tiznow, clearly enjoys synthetic footing and should give a good account of himself.
Casino Drive has returned from Japan, and his unorthodox walking/galloping routine continues at Hollywood Park. He shipped to the states and nabbed the Peter Pan in May, but a stone bruise kept him from competing in the Belmont Stakes. He was expected to …read more

Undefeated Japanese sensation Casino Drive has been declared from the Belmont Stakes because of a stone bruise in his left hind leg that was discovered Friday morning.
The injured heel was immediately soaked in Epsom salts, and after a trip to the track on Saturday morning, he started favoring his left hind leg during his bath.
Casino Drive loomed a serious pace rival at the very least, and with the blueblood now out of the way, Big Brown’s Triple Crown task became that much easier.
The complexion of the race has changed, and Big Brown’s competition may have to alter their …read more

Casino Drive did not go to the track the day before the Belmont Stakes due to a stone bruise in his left hind leg.
The stone bruise is currently being treated with Epsom salts, and his status for the Belmont Stakes will be determined tomorrow.
It would be a shame if he had to scratch, because the son of Mineshaft has traveled so far while overcoming a flu outbreak in Japan, isolation and quarantine to be here.
After all of that, and with just one race under his belt, he worked a strong five furlongs three days before his visually …read more

Casino Drive has had an interesting road to the Belmont Stakes, and his unusual preparations continued with another easy four furlongs…somewhere in the neighborhood of :55-4/5 to :57 seconds. He sat several lengths behind his stablemate Spark Candle before passing his mate in the lane.
Note that Casino Dive has not been changing leads on cue, probably due to his lack of race seasoning, but he reportedly looks strong physically.
Again, time is irrelevant to his connections. The key is to build stamina for his twelve furlong test on June 7th.
He has the top Japanese trainer in his corner, …read more

Big Brown drew the rail post and has been listed at 2-5 on the morning line in his quest to become the 12th Triple Crown winner. He was out for a leisurely walk on Wednesday, one day after working a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.03. A patch will be applied to his quarter crack (left front hoof) on Friday afternoon, and he should be good to go on June 7th.
Second choice Casino Drive did not have his final Belmont work on June 4th, as his Japanese connections were not pleased with the sloppy conditions. He merely walked, galloped, and …read more