Casino Drive
HorsenameCasino Drive
SireMineshaft
GrandsireA. P. Indy
DamBetter Than Honour
DamsireDeputy Minister
SexStallion
FoaledMarch 7, 2005
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederShell Bloodstock
OwnerHidetoshi Yamamoto
TrainerKazuo Fujisawa
Record11: 4-1-1
Earnings$904,575
RacePeter Pan Stakes (2008)
Death dateAugust 5, 2019 (aged 14)

Casino Drive (foaled March 7, 2005 in Kentucky, died August 5, 2019, in Japan)[1] was an American thoroughbred racehorse and breeding stallion.

Background

Casino Drive was sired by 2003 United States Horse of the Year Mineshaft, out of the broodmare Better Than Honour, making him a half-brother to 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil, and a three-quarter brother to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches.

Purchased for $950,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sales and shipped to Japan by owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto,[2] he was unraced until he was three years old.

Racing career

2008: Three-year-old season

Casino Drive made his debut in February on dirt at Kyoto, winning by 111⁄2 lengths under Yutaka Take.[3]

Following his maiden win, he was shipped to the United States where, in his second career start, he won the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes by 53⁄4 lengths. He was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, rider of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.[4]

Casino Drive was scratched from the Belmont and unable to run due to a stone bruise to his left rear hoof.[5]

After a lengthy wait for his return after the Belmont, Casino Drive was started in an allowance race in the fall season to qualify for the Breeders' Cup Classic, easily beating the field. Expected to give a good run for the $5 million Classic, Casino Drive, unbeaten in his three previous starts, was last after setting the pace mid-race. He ended his 2008 campaign with a 6th-place finish in the Japan Cup Dirt. The winner Kane Hekili, won his second Japan Cup Dirt title.[6]

2009: Four-year-old season

Casino Drive's first race of the 2009 season was the Alexandrite Stakes, an allowance race for four-year-olds and above. He was the heavy favorite to win, with odds of 1.2 compared to the second favorite, Dreamy Pegasus, odd's of 6.5. Casino Drive held a strong position throughout the entire race, and won with a margin of 3 1⁄2 lengths.[7]

For his next start, Casino Drive entered the 2009 February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse over 1600m. Casino Drive finished in 2nd place, a neck behind the upset winner Success Brocken and a head in front of the favorite Kane Hekili.[8]

His final race of the year was the 2009 Dubai World Cup. Casino Drive had a disappointing showing, placing 8th with no challenge to the leader, Well Armed, who won by 14 lengths.[9]

After the Dubai World Cup it was discovered that Casino Drive had developed flexor tendonitis in his front leg, and it was announced that he would undergo surgery.[10] Therefore, he would not race in 2010.

2011: Six-year-old season

Casino Drive had three starts in his six-year-old season and failed to win any races. His first start was on March 6 at the Nigawa Stakes over 2000m on dirt, where he finished a disappointing ninth place as the second favorite.[11]

His next race was the Akhalteke Stakes on May 1. Casino Drive finished a head behind the second place runner, Toho Orvis, to place third.[12]

Under a month later on May 29, Casino Drive started in the final race of his career, the Tsubasa Sho. Despite placing eighth, Casino Drive finished only 0.2 seconds behind the winner, Toho Orvis, due to the fact that first eight horses finished very close to one another.[13]

Statistics

The following table is based on information from netkeiba for Japanese races, and Equibase for American races.[14][15]

DateTrackRaceGradeDistanceFieldOdds (Favorite)FinishTimeMargin (Winning)JockeyWinner (2nd place)
2008 – Three-year-old season
February 23KyotoDebut1800m131.2 (1)1st1:54.4(10+ lenghts)Yutaka Take(Copano Akochan)
May 10BelmontPeter Pan StakesG21800m91.25 (1)1st1:47.87(5 3⁄4 lengths)Kent Desormeaux(Mint Lane)
October 12Santa AnitaAllowance StakesAlw1700m70.4 (1)1st1:42.14(3⁄4 length)Victor Espinoza(Dakota Phone)
October 25Santa AnitaBreeders' Cup ClassicG12000m129.9 (4)12th1:59.2721 lengthsVictor EspinozaRaven's Pass
December 7HanshinJapan Cup DirtG11800m157.1 (3)6th1:49.22 1⁄2 lengthsKatsumi AndoKane Hekili
2009 – Four-year-old season
January 24NakayamaAlexandrite StakesAlw1800m111.2 (1)1st1:49.9(3 1⁄2 lengths)Katsumi Ando(Daiwa Rubia)
February 22TokyoFebruary StakesG11600m165.0 (3)2nd1:34.6neckKatsumi AndoSuccess Brocken
March 28Nad Al ShebaDubai World CupG12000m144.0 (2)8th2:01.0127 lengthsKatsumi AndoWell Armed
2011– Six-year-old season
March 6HanshinNigawa StakesOpen2000m144.0 (2)9th2:05.611 1⁄4 lengthsShinji FujitaWonder Acute
May 1TokyoAkhalteke StakesOpen1400m164.1 (2)3rd1:24.32 1⁄2 lengthsKatsumi AndoBright Isaac
May 29TokyoTsubasa ShoOpen1400m162.5 (1)8th1:23.93⁄4 lengthKatsumi AndoToho Orvis

Stud career

Casino Drive retired and stood stud at Shadai Stallion Station in 2011.[16] Some of his progeny include:[17]

c = colt, g = gelding

FoaledNameSexMajor Wins
2013VengeancecMiyako Stakes, Sannomiya Stakes, Tempozan Stakes, Polaris Stakes
2016Casino FountaincKawasaki Kinen (twice)
2017Meisho KazusacProcyon Stakes, Urawa Kinen, Hakusan Daishoten
2013Drive KnightgSubaru Stakes, Kibune Stakes, Hakobera Sho

Casino Drive died on August 5, 2019, but his death was not officially announced until the Japanese Studbook updated their database in March 2020.[1][18]

An anthropomorphized version of Casino Drive appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Aimi, as a supporting character.[19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ "09年フェブラリーS2着 カジノドライヴ、昨夏に14歳で死亡していた" (in Japanese). スポニチ Sponichi Annex. Sports Nippon. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  2. ^ "Tomcito Hopes For Better in Peter Pan | bloodhorse.com". Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  3. ^ From Japan, With Genes to Capture the Belmont - New York Times
  4. ^ "Casino Drive Spectacular in Peter Pan | bloodhorse.com". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  5. ^ Daily Racing Form: News Login/Access Your Account
  6. ^ "Result of the 9th Japan Cup Dirt (G1)". japanracing.jp. 7 December 2008. Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "ALEXANDRITE STAKES Full Result | 24 JAN 2009 R11 Nakayama Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  8. ^ "FEBRUARY STAKES (G1) Full Result | 22 FEB 2009 R11 Tokyo Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  9. ^ Shinar, Jack. "Well Armed Steals Dubai World Cup". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  10. ^ "カジノドライヴ屈腱炎…幹細胞移植の手術へ - 競馬 - SANSPO.COM" (in ja-JP). www.sanspo.com. Archived 2009-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  11. ^ "NIGAWA STAKES (OP) Full Result | 06 MAR 2011 R10 Hanshin Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  12. ^ "AKHALTEKE STAKES (OP) Full Result | 01 MAY 2011 R10 Tokyo Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  13. ^ "TSUBASA SHO (OP) Full Result | 29 MAY 2011 R12 Tokyo Racing Information (JRA)". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  14. ^ "Casino Drive Race Record and Form | Horse Profile". netkeiba. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  15. ^ Equibase.com. "Horse Racing | Horse Racing Entries | Horse Racing Results | Past Performances | Mobile | Statistics". www.equibase.com. Archived 2014-11-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  16. ^ "カジノドライヴが社台スタリオンステーションで種牡馬入り". 競走馬のふるさと案内所. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  17. ^ "Record | Stallion Reports | Casino Drive(USA) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  18. ^ "2019年の供用停止種雄馬一覧". 公益財団法人 ジャパン・スタッドブック・インターナショナル. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  19. ^ "カジノドライヴ｜ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 公式ポータルサイト｜Cygames" (in Japanese). umamusume.jp. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  20. ^ "新ウマ娘・カジノドライヴは「プレゼン巧者なウマ娘。米レース界の超名門一族出身」" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2026-02-22. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  21. ^ Hara, Tsuneki (2026-02-23). "『ウマ娘』新シナリオ“Beyond Dreams 共に前へ、共に光を”先行体験。ブリーダーズカップ制覇という夢を駆けるウマ娘たちの物語が開幕" (in Japanese). ファミ通.com. Retrieved 2026-02-27.