Casino Drive’s first foal arrives in Japan

Grade 2 winner Casino Drive, a half-brother to two Belmont Stakes winners, was represented by his first foal on Jan. 26, a filly born in Japan.

The filly is out of the winning Sunday Silence mare La Sylphide, dam of two winners from four starters. Out of the unraced Blushing John mare Mocdavia, La Sylphide is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Updraft, and to the winning mare Aspen Leaf, dam of Group 3 winner Reginetta.

La Sylphide's second dam is Grade 1 winner Northern Aspen; it is the family of champion and classic winner Timber Country, Group 1 winners Fort Wood and Hamas—the former a leading sire in South Africa—and Group 2 winners Bianconi, Colorado Dancer, and Elle Seule.

Casino Drive, an 8-year-old son of Mineshaft, broke his maiden at first asking in Japan before shipping to the U.S. and annexing the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont in his second career start. He was pointed toward the 2008 Belmont Stakes, but was forced to scratch with a bruised hoof.

Casino Drive won a stakes race in Japan the following January before finishing second in the Group 1 February Stakes. He retired in 2011 with four wins from 11 career starts and earnings of $904,575.

Out of the Grade 2-winning Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour, Casino Drive is a half-brother to champion Rags To Riches, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes, and to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil. Better Than Honour is also the dam of Breeders' Cup Marathon winner Man of Iron and multiple stakes producer Teeming. She was honored as Kentucky’s Broodmare of the Year for 2007.

Out of Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride, Better Than Honour is a half-sister to Group 1-placed Maryinsky, dam of European champion and multiple Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn and Group 1 winner Thewayyouare. Better Than Honour is also a full sister to Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle and a half-sister to Group 2 winner and stakes producer Smolensk, stakes-placed Fire Thunder, and stakes producers Butterfly Blue and Goldminess.

Casino Drive, a $950,000 purchase at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale, stands at Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido, Japan for a private fee.