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Casino Drive and companions settle in at Belmont

Casino Drive is a three-quarter brother to Belmont queen Rags to Riches (Adam Coglianese Photo/NYRA) After a 12-hour trans-Pacific journey, including a one-hour lay-over in Anchorage, Alaska, and a brief stint at Aqueduct to clear quarantine, Japanese-based sophomores CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft), CHAMPAGNE SQUALL (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) and SPARK CANDLE (A.P. Indy) have begun to settle into Barn 17 at Belmont Park. Arriving at Belmont at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, the horses had the night to rest before hitting the muddy main track for a morning canter Friday. Nobutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management Ltd., said that all three horses have acclimated well and went nicely. After a long cool-down tour throughout the barn area of Belmont Park, the three returned in prime shape and looked unfazed by their lengthy journey. The chestnut colt Spark Candle, who was bought for $1.5 million at the 2006 Keeneland September Sale, led the trio out of the cool morning mist, followed closely by Casino Drive and the gray, Champagne Squall. Tada has confirmed that the three will return to the track to work Wednesday morning, as they aim for next Saturday's 55th running of the $200,000 Peter Pan S. (G2).

The Peter Pan will be Casino Drive's second lifetime start, having broken his maiden in Japan by 11 1/2 lengths going nine furlongs, and will serve as a prep for the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 7. Plans for the other two are still up in the air.

"Casino Drive will run in the Belmont," Tada said. "We'll see how Spark Candle runs and Champagne Squall, we'll have to see what we can do with him."

Casino Drive will look to make history in the 140th running of the Belmont as he tries to follow in the footsteps of his half-brother Jazil (Seeking the Gold), the 2006 Belmont winner, and his three-quarter sister, 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), one of only three fillies and the first in 102 years to win the race. The three share the same dam, Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister).

"We need one more race at least…he needs experience," Tada said regarding Casino Drive's preparation for the "Test of the Champion."

Tada and his team have not raced in New York since one of his mares made an appearance on Aqueduct's inner track in 1995. The colts' owner, Hidetoshi Yamamoto, a Japanese business executive, will not be at the Peter Pan but is expected to fly into New York for Casino Drive's attempt in the Belmont.

Spark Candle, a son of champion Serena's Song, has a statuesque look (Adam Coglianese Photo/NYRA) Although Spark Candle finished 12th in his only start on the dirt, Tada said he was not concerned about his running on the dirt at Belmont Park. "It was not his day," Tada said of that lone dirt start. "(It) was not because of the surface. We have to try; we think he is a good horse." Yet to break his maiden, Champagne Squall's appearance in the Peter Pan is still in question. "We will see how he behaves," said Tada. "He has the ability and we will see." Champagne Squall's three previous attempts to break his maiden have been at distances beyond 10 furlongs, and it is hoped shortening up might do the trick.

According to Andrew Byrnes, NYRA's stakes coordinator, the other horses likely to challenge in the Peter Pan are Florida Derby (G1) third TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]), a superstar in Peru; Illinois Derby (G2) runner-up GOLDEN SPIKES (Seeking the Gold); allowance/optional claiming winner COSMIC (El Prado [Ire]), a son of champion Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold) from the Shug McGaughey barn; the Todd Pletcher-trained READY'S ECHO (More Than Ready); and Federico Tesio S. third DEPUTYVILLE (Deputy Warlock), a Gary Contessa trainee.

Listed as questionable for the Peter Pan are MINT LANE (Maria's Mon), who just missed in the Tesio; FAST TALKING (Hennessy); and MONARCH'S MYSTERY (Monarchos).

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