Mast Track, third and final American hope, arrives for Japan Cup Dirt

Mast Track, third and final American hope, arrives for

Japan Cup Dirt

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) hero MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast) has settled

into his quarters at the JRA Horseracing School Quarantine Center in

Shiroi City, Japan, where the Bobby Frankel homebred is continuing his

preparations for Sunday's $2,646,100 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1).

Mast Track touched down at Narita Airport on Thursday morning and was

transported to the quarantine center later that afternoon, completing a

13-hour trip from his Santa Anita base.

"It was a long trip but he seems to be doing well," assistant trainer

Jose Alejandro Cuevas said. "Our goal is to win the race, but I am aware

that we will have several competitive Japanese horses in the race. We

will give it our best."

Mast Track was the last of three American contenders for the Japan Cup Dirt

to arrive in Tokyo. The first was Indiana Derby (G2) winner TIN CUP CHALICE

(Crusader Sword), the pride of Finger Lakes, who flew in on November 20.

Suburban H. (G1) victor FROST GIANT (Giant's Causeway) arrived last Wednesday.

Tin Cup Chalice worked out at Hanshin Racecourse, the site of the about 1

1/8-mile Japan Cup Dirt, on Sunday. The Michael LeCesse sophomore enjoyed an

easier day Monday and was only hand walked.

"Since we had him do some fast work yesterday, we're not planning on doing

any more fast or strong work this week," LeCesse said Monday. "The course here

is a bit sandy and much deeper than at home, but the horse seems to like it. We

feel honored to be invited by the JRA to race in the Japan Cup Dirt. He's still

young and this will be a big test for him, but we hope that this will be a big

step up for him. We intend to just hand-walk him tomorrow, like today."

Casino Drive will try to atone for his Breeders' Cup loss in the Japan Cup Dirt (Adam Coglianese Photo/NYRA) The American trio will face an all-star Japanese cast expected to include Peter Pan S. (G2) romper CASINO DRIVE (Mineshaft), who will try to rebound from his disappointing last-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); defending Japan Cup Dirt champion VERMILION (El Condor Pasa); and KANE HEKILI (Fuji Kiseki), winner of the 2005 edition who recently returned from a two-year layoff. The Japan Cup Dirt, which had traditionally been run the day before the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo, will be held as the last leg of the Japan Autumn International series. The first leg, the November 16 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Jpn-G1) for distaffers, was taken by Little Amapola (Agnes Tachyon). The mare Blumenblatt (Admire Vega) defeated males to land the second leg, the November 23 Mile Championship (Jpn-G1), while Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) scored a 41-1 upset in the third leg, this past Sunday's Japan Cup.