(Monday, May 12) Shipping in from Japan off just a maiden win, Hidetoshi Yamamoto's Casino Drive was an impressive winner in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, drawing clear to a 5 ¾-length victory.

The $950,000 Keeneland purchase made his debut on February 23, an 11 ½-length victory at Kyoto Race Course in Japan.

Next up for the colt is the Belmont Stakes (G1), and a possible match up against Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, who could be looking for the Triple Crown if successful this Saturday in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

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While Casino Drive will try to win the Belmont Stakes off just two career starts, he certainly has the pedigree to win the race.

The colt is by Mineshaft out of the mare Better Than Honour, who has produced the last two Belmont Stakes winners, Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).

He showed he could handle the Belmont Park main track. The colt broke a step slow in the Peter Pan, then tracked the early pace, gained ground around the far turn, took charge inside the three-sixteenths pole, and drew off smartly under hand urging from jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The colt stopped the timer in 1:47.87 for the nine furlongs and paid $4.50 for a $2 wager.

"I certainly understand how Jazil and Rags to Riches won the Belmont," Desormeaux said. "Yeah, he can run a lot. It's going to be fun. He's a phenomenal talent, and we've got our hands full with this one. It's going to be ultimately exciting for all of the fans."  

If all goes well in Baltimore with Big Brown, Casino Drive will need a new pilot, as Desormeaux is the regular rider of the Derby winner.

Longshot Mint Lane was sent off at 18/1 and settled for the runner up spot, completing a $66.50 exacta. Ready's Echo, was off slowly, and made a good late run to complete the trifecta, which returned $225.50.

Golden Spikes finished fourth, followed by Cosmic, Spark Candle, Tomcito, Deputyville, and Fast Talking.

Mint Lane and Ready's Echo are considered possible for the Belmont Stakes, but the connections are waiting to see how their horses come out of the race before making a commitment to the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

Preakness Stakes lineup

Big Brown scared off the entire Kentucky Derby field for the upcoming Preakness, and will face a new set of challengers as he attempts to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

The Preakness will be run on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

Among those pointing toward Saturday's Preakness include Tres Barrachos, Behindattehbar, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Kentucky Bear, Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, and Yankee Bravo.

Weekly horse racing report is courtesy of Mike Dempsey at Turfnsport.com. Mike has been handicapping races for three decades and runs free horse handicapping contests from his site every week. His exclusive Pointspread.com article appears here Mondays or Tuesdays.