Casino Drive gets rematch with Kane Hekili in February

Last year's Peter Pan S. (G2) romper CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft), who was only

sixth to KANE HEKILI (Fuji Kiseki) in the December 7 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1),

will try to turn the tables in Sunday's $2,233,000 February S. (Jpn-G1) at

Tokyo. Casino Drive is using the about one-mile affair on dirt as his prep for

the March 28 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), and he is not alone in his international

aspirations. Of the 16 entrants, six have been nominated to the World Cup or the

Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) on the same evening. Casino Drive holds nominations for

both events.

The Kazuo Fujisawa trainee experienced a roller-coaster season in 2008. It

began on a pair of high notes, with his smashing debut score at Kyoto and his

dominating Peter Pan, but hit a low spot when suffering a stone bruise that

forced him to scratch on the morning of the Belmont S. (G1). Casino Drive

returned to the United States in the fall, lining up in a Santa allowance, and

comfortably extended his record to a perfect three-for-three. The chestnut then

threw in the worst effort of his brief career in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1),

where he retreated to last after setting the pace. He turned in a better

performance in the Japan Cup Dirt, beaten about three lengths by Kane Hekili.

In his 2009 debut, Casino Drive benefited from a drop in class, and he

responded with a smart, 3 1/2-length allowance score at Nakayama. On Sunday, the

four-year-old will try again to prove himself in top-level company. Katsumi

Ando, who was set to ride Daiwa Scarlet in the February before her sudden

retirement, now rejoins Casino Drive.

Kane Hekili made a storybook comeback from injuries to win the Japan Cup

Dirt, becoming the first two-time winner in the race's short history. That was

just the beginning of a three-race winning streak, for the Katsuhiko Sumii

charge went on to capture the Tokyo Daishoten and Kawasaki Kinen. The

seven-year-old will bid for his second February crown, having landed the 2006

edition. Regular rider Christophe Lemaire will be back aboard Japan's champion

dirt horse, who is not nominated for Dubai.

VERMILION (El Condor Pasa), the defending February champion, is likewise

devoid of Dubai engagements. Last of 12 in the 2008 World Cup, he did not return

to action until November, when he successfully defended his title in the JBC

Classic. The dark bay has narrowly failed to contain the resurgent Kane Hekili

in his last pair, finishing third in a three-way photo in the Japan Cup Dirt and

falling a neck short in the Tokyo Daishoten. Perennial leading rider Yutaka Take

will stick with the seven-year-old veteran, who would make history as the first

winner of back-to-back runnings of the February.

Japan Dirt Derby hero SUCCESS BROCKEN (Symboli Kris S) has also vainly chased

Kane Hekili. After winding up a disappointing eighth in the Japan Cup Dirt, he

posted more characteristic third-place efforts in the Tokyo Daishoten and

Kawasaki Kinen. The talented four-year-old is another who is keeping his

horizons fixed at home in Japan, as is the improving FERRARI PISA (Touch Gold),

who has made a remarkable recovery from facial nerve damage. In career-best form

at present, Ferrari Pisa comes off scores in the Elm S. and Negishi S. (Jpn-G3).

Of the five remaining Dubai nominees other than Casino Drive, the most

intriguing is ESPOIR CITY (Gold Allure), the likely pacesetter who is

auditioning for a spot in the Godolphin Mile. The chestnut concluded his

sophomore campaign with a four-race winning streak, capped by a victory in the

Topaz S. in his stakes debut. Espoir City kicked off his four-year-old season

with a near-miss second in the Heian S. (Jpn-G3), where he was just caught late.

Also holding Dubai engagements are Grade 3 winner KIKUNO SALIRE (Jade

Robbery), VICTORY TETSUNI (Gone West) and NANYO HILLTOP (Charismatic), who are

all nominated to the World Cup and Godolphin Mile, and OFFICER (Fusaichi

Pegasus), whose lone nomination is to the Godolphin Mile.