Casino Drive

Casino Drive
NYRA photo

2005, Mineshaft - Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister

Breeder: Shell Bloodstock (Ky.)

Owner: Hidetoshi Yamamoto

Trainer: Kazuo Fujisawa

Regular Rider: Victor Espinoza

Pedigree

Casino Drive
Mineshaft
Better Than Honour
A.P. Indy
Prospectors Delite
Deputy Minister
Blush With Pride
Seattle Slew
Weekend Surprise
Mr. Prospector
Up the Flagpole
Vice Regent
Mint Copy
Blushing Groom (FR)
Best in Show

Purchase Info

Consigned to 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale by Mark Dedomenico, Denali Stud, agent. Purchased for $950,000 by Nobutaka Tada.

Pedigree Highlights

Click on the highlighted stallion name near the top of the page to go to the Thoroughbred Times Stallion Directory page for Mineshaft.

Dam Better Than Honour was a Grade 2 winner and twice Grade 1 placed while earning $250,920.

In addition to Casino Drive the full sister to Irish Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle (Ire) is the dam of 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Rags to Riches, the 2007 champion three-year-old filly, and 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil.

Better Than Honour was named Broodmare of the Year in 2007.

Thefemale family is deep in quality as second dam Blush With Pride was a two-time Grade 1 stakes winner and is a half sister to Irish two-year-old champion Malinowski.

The family also includes European champion two-year-old filly Peeping Fawn.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
34300$216,482

At 3: 1– Peter Pan S. (G2)

Last Start

12th in Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Contender Status

Peter Pan Stakes (G2) winner Casino Drive arrived in Southern California from Japan on October 1 with the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on his agenda.

Casino Drive had raced only twice, winning a 1 1/8-mile maiden race in February at Kyoto racecourse and the Peter Pan by 5 3/4 lengths on May 10 at Belmont Park. He was scratched from the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7 at Belmont after developing a foot bruise.

The Mineshaft colt prepped for the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 12 in an allowance/optional claiming race at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, winning as he pleased.

"Victor [jockey Espinoza] did a great job on him...the horse saved plenty of energy for the Breeders' Cup," said Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto. "It was really a perfect prep race. He was ready to run, we knew, but he's not at the top of his form, so we hope after the race he's going to improve."

Quotable

Nobutaka Tada, racing manager for Casino Drive's owner, Hidetoshi Yamamoto, when asked after the colt won an October 12 allowance race if jockey Victor Espinoza would retain the mount:

"He did everything well and perfect, so why not?"