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Casino Drive begins historic quest in Peter Pan 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.
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