Rider For Belmont Stakes Contender Casino Drive To Be Named
Horse trainer Kazou Fujisawa and owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto are still deciding on a rider to replace jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode Casino Drive to a 5 3/4 length victory in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park last May 10, in the 2008 Belmont Stakes.
Nobutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management Ltd. and spokesperson for Yamamoto and Fujisawa, expects a jockey decision to be made soon.
“We are leaving our options open,” Tada said May 20, without mentioning the names of the riders under consideration. “We should have a clear answer in four or five days. Fortunately, many good riders are interested, and we are pleased about that.”
Jockey Kent Desormeaux has ridden Big Brown in four straight starts, including a 5 1/4-length victory in the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. The son of Boundary, Big Brown, also won by 4 3/4 lengths under Desormeaux in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Big Brown seeks to become horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner with a win in the Belmont Stakes.
Casino Drive, a son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, broke his maiden at Kyoto Race Course in Japan last February 23. Casino Drive was ridden in his career debut by leading Japanese jockey Yutaka Take.
A half brother to 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil and three-quarter brother to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner and champion three-year-old filly Rags to Riches,
Casino Drive may join Algerine (1876) and Prince Eugene (1913) as horses that won the Belmont Stakes in their third career starts.
"Rider For Belmont Stakes Contender Casino Drive To Be Named" was posted on 20 May 2008 10:57 PM under Belmont Stakes, Horse Racing News, Horses, Jockeys, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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