i think you mean wild desert in the 2005 Queen's Plate at Woodbine - not a claim violation but a workout violation and misleading info - but we get the idea

That's just not true. Some of them handled it but just didn't run well. PYRO would be one example. But, feel free to generalize.

Oh, you mean like calling everyone who works for Churchill Downs "****ing RETARDS" because one replay didn't go up on their site?

NYRA will need to provide windows with Japanese speaking clerks-otherwise the betting on the day will go into meltdown.

I reckon there were 10,000 Japanese who went to Longchamp to see Deep Impact. Longchamp provided 2 windows for Japanese bettors. Average length of each line was 200 during the day-possibly peaking at around 500.

Combine that with a possible Triple Crown attempt by Big Brown-thousands of 1st time bettors and once a year people...plus any protestors outside or inside the track....

Desormeaux actually DID say it, tongue in cheek, but was seriously impressed after the race.

You think 10K Japanese strong are going to make a trip halfway around the world to watch and bet on a horse who made one career start over there?

I know they tend to be pretty obsessed with the sport and love to bet - but I doubt that horse built a huge fan base with a single odds-on maiden win.

Last year's 2-year-old champion in Japan came from a juvenile sale here - and they bought up many excellent athletes at juvenile sales this year - most of which I assume will be sent over there. I guess that is what happens when the value of the American dollar tanks.

Major stallions and top horses A.P. Indy, Unbridled's Song, and Fusaichi Pegasus all had a big chance to go to Japan and race - none of which did. Tomo Tsuramaki and Fusao Sekaguchi kept A. P. Indy and Fu Peg here - probably because both were outright Keeneland July Select yearling sales toppers - where UBS was, at the time, the most expensive horse ever purchased from a 2yo in training sale - but the day after the sale they found "a flake" in his ankle and the sale was voided.

There was a noticeable number of Japanese at Belmont yesterday..

I think I'm turning Japanese

I think he's right, the Japanese will come out bigtime for the Belmont. They're rabid about horse racing and love to support their own. Once on a business trip to Japan I somehow:rolleyes: managed to find the time to visit an OTB in Tokyo. omg what a madhouse

Early reports are he got a 101 beyer for the effort? I thought it would have been slightly higher. Still needs to improve abit to reach Big Brown and Harlem Rocker's top beyers.

I don't think that they will come over in Deep Impact numbers but I think a large number will be swayed into making the trip if the Triple Crown is on the line. If Casino Drive wins-history is made. If not they may well see a Triple Crown.

Well, I'm a big figure believer/user, but the Beyers don't do the actual running.

It was Casino Drive's 2nd.. SECOND.. career start. And off a layoff. He was absolutely terrific. And should only be better in 4 weeks.

In addition to the info above:

The Trainer for the Japanese entry 'Kazuo Fujisawa' is currently 10th in the Trainer standings in Japan as of the end of April 2008. His strike rate is a respectable 16.2% - from 74 entries.

beat me to it HHH...

The Belmont could turn in to a really colourful event.. he is trying to be the first foreign trained winner of a triple crown since Go and Go??

Great "new wave" one hit wonder from fall of 1980.....let's hope Casino Drive isn't! :D

I agree it was a good performance considering it was only his second career performance, can't take that away from him one bit. All the credit to his connections for shipping in. I only have 1 concern what was the quality of the field he beat yesterday? I think the telling sign was Mint Lane holding on for second off of a very fair pace. No one else was making an impact down the stretch when perhaps they should have been.

Someone who posts on another board lives in Japan and follows Japanese racing - she also provides updates on Japanese horses, etc....... Apparently the man who owns Casino Drive is anxious to get in all the right circles (royalty, celebrity, etc.......) - he's also a sporting man and therefore it seems natural that he would point for the Belmont. I asked what she thought his plans for the colt would be after the Belmont (return to Japan for the Japan Dirt Cup, then point for a 4 year old campaign in the US? Stay in the US?) and even she's not sure. I hope the owner does not try to point CD to only the biggest races in the world and show up for the Arc just to get into high -class circles.........he's not exactly bred for turf and he could be a fun horse to watch in the US.

If I recall, AP Indy's owner (Tsurumaki) bought another yearling besides Indy - turned out to be AP Jet. AP Jet was sent to Japan because he was more precocious - lucky for US racing and breeding that Indy was later developing. He was also not interested in breeding at all, which is why he remained in the US for his stud career. I'm not sure the owner of Casino Drive has enough of a track record for us to make any kind of determination as to the colt's future.

Yes, but CD won easily - it's not like had had a hard time with this field. He won off as easy as could be despite not being sharp - he did overcome a lot of obstacles - and not breaking well. Given those obstacles, I'm not sure that it means anything that he didn't beat much.

The field was OK. I personally like Mint Lane a great deal.. think he's a real horse.. and played him accordingly yesterday at what was a big overlay number. He went a lot faster than J. Jerkens was hoping for, and while no match for the winner, ran a very nice race.

Casino Drive's running style is exceedingly conducive for the Belmont... (And I'm not going to state the obvious about him being bred well for Belmont Stakes success..;) )