Casino Drive captures allowance in Japan

Casino Drive is back in business (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

1:49.90.

A three-quarter brother to champion Rags

to Riches (A.P. Indy) and a half-brother to Belmont S. (G1) winner Jazil

(Seeking the Gold), Casino Drive was winning for the first time since

his comfortable allowance score at Santa Anita on October 12. He

disappointed next time out in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), where he

retreated to finish last of 12 after setting the early pace. The

chestnut turned in a more creditable effort in the December 7 Japan Cup

Dirt (Jpn-G1), beaten by approximately three lengths in sixth place.

Casino Drive has now won four of six

lifetime starts. Saturday's confidence-building allowance score will

likely serve as a prep for bigger targets down the road. The next

top-level dirt event in Japan is the February S. (Jpn-G1), held over a

metric mile at Tokyo on February 22.

Casino Drive may be seen in Dubai, for

he has been nominated to the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and the Godolphin

Mile (UAE-G2), both on March 28.