 Is Casino Drive expected to upset Big Brown in Triple Crown? Casino Drive is a strong contender in this running of the Belmont Stakes. He has two starts for his career and two big wins. His debut took place at Kyoto Racecourse at 1 1/8 miles over a standard dirt track, he crushed his opposition by 12 lengths. Kentucky-bred Casino Drive was a $950,000 purchase out of the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. His dam has already produced two Belmont Stakes winners, half brother Jazil (by Seeking the Gold) and 3/4 sister Rags to Riches (by A.P. Indy, sire of Mineshaft). Remember this, two years ago Jazil won and last year Rags to Riches won the Belmont Stakes. On target to compete in the Belmont Stakes in his third lifetime race. A win would give his broodmare three consecutive winners in the classic race. Early morning Belmont odds have Casino Drive at 5 to 2 for your Belmont Stakes picks. Casino Drive shipped back to the U.S. went to Belmont Park to win the Peter Pan Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. In that race he broke slowly from the gate but was moving up rapidly and then settled in a good position along the backstretch. He gained on the leaders in the final turn, and then angled, out took charge on the inside at the three-sixteenths pole then drew off under a hand ride. He is considered the only serious competition for Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes. Casino Drive is by Horse of the Year Mineshaft, who is a son of A.P. Indy, who likewise was a Horse of the Year and a winner of the Belmont Stakes. When Casino Drive won his race at Belmont Park, Jockey Kent Desormeaux rode him. Desormeaux is on Big Brown in the race. My question is why did Desormeaux ride Casino Drive? What were the connections of Casino Drive thinking. This a very interesting thing that I believe could be a great story line. Did they take a chance that Big Brown would get hurt then Desormeaux would be free or are they trying to shove it in Desormeaux face when he rides Big Brown. Edgar Prado was officially named to ride Casino Drive in the June 7 Belmont Stakes. Prado, who earlier this year was voted into Racing's Hall of Fame, has twice won the Belmont, in both instances stopping Triple Crown bids. In 2002, Prado rode 70-1 Sarava to victory as the longest shot ever to win the race, defeating 6-5 favorite War Emblem. In 2004, Prado guided Birdstone to a 36-1 upset of previously undefeated and 3-5 favorite Smarty Jones. I definitely love Casino Drive and I believe he will have a huge shot at beating Big Brown in the Belmont. Pace wouldn’t seem to be a major factor in a 12-furlong event but Prado probably doesn’t want to fall far behind the expected soft fractions in the Belmont. It would be quite the story if Prado scored his third TC upset (he is my favorite jockey) and if Casino Drive dam Better Than Honor has her third Belmont Stake’s winner. Casino Drive's brother and sister both won the Belmont in the last 2 years. So this guy has the family and talent. What else does he need? This will represent the highest price of his brief career, although many will not consider him a value play against an imposing individual poised to make history RECENT WORKOUTS leading up to the Belmont Stakes: | Horse Name | Date | Track | Dist | Time | Surf | Cond. | B/H | | | Casino Drive | 05/07/2008 | BEL | 5F | :59.94 | Dirt | Fast | H | |
All posted Belmont odds are online odds provided by SportsBetting.com 1. Big Brown Kent Desormeaux Rick Dutrow Jr. 1-3 2. Guadalcanal TBA Fred Seitz 40-1 3. Macho Again Garrett Gomez Dallas Stewart 15-1 4. Denis of Cork Robby Albarado David Carroll 10-1 5. Casino Drive Edgar Prado Kazuo Fujisawa 5-2 6. Da' Tara Alan Garcia Nick Zito 25-1 7. Tale of Ekati Eibar Coa Barclay Tagg 18-1 8. Anak Nakal Julien Leparoux Nick Zito 25-1 9. Ready's Echo John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 251 10. Icabad Crane Jeremy Rose Graham Motion 18-1 Want Belmont Odds and Picks on your mobile device?
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Belmont Stakes: Casino Drive to upset Big Brown in Triple Crown (06-05-08)
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