Why didn't Casino Drive run in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness?

Question

I don't really follow horse racing that closely, but before he was scratched, Casino Drive was thought of as the biggest threat to Big Brown. I'm just wondering why he never ran the first two big races if he was so promising. What is the reason?

Answer 1

he fail the drug test

Answer 2

He was put into the Belmont simply as a spoiler.

His dam was the mother of the 2006 and 2007 Belmont winners ... Casino Drive's pedigree dictated that he would be a great distance-horse.

Some horses are bred for speed, others for distance ... not many horses can do both.  Casino Drive was bred for distance.  It was considered likely that he would have more endurance than Big Brown over the longer distance.  His capabilities would not have served him as well in the shorter races (Derby and Preakness).

Answer 3

He had a sore foot.  Here's the story http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45633....

Answer 4

He is a Japanese horse sent over here to run specifically in the Belmont, as JSR astutely points out.

He ran his first race on Feb 23 - so shipping him over here to run in the Derby on the first Sat of May is a bit of a stretch for any horse.

He ran in the Peter Pan stakes at Belmont Park a few weeks before the Belmont Stakes. The Peter Pan is traditionally NY's 'local prep' for the Belmont Stakes.

He may return to Japan for all I know.