espinoza sweet on casino chance

Victor Espinoza believes Casino Drive can ruin the party for both Curlin and the European raiders in Saturday night's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Curlin is the red-hot favourite to take the honours while Duke Of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Raven's Pass lead the European challenge.

But Espinoza believes his mount can cause a shock by taking the spoils.

The Japanese colt is unbeaten in three starts this year and is currently second-favourite following his victory in a Santa Anita allowance race earlier in the month.

Espinoza, who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with War Emblem and also landed the Breeders' Cup Distaff aboard Spain in 2000, rode Casino Drive that day and he was impressed by a horse he felt was wise beyond his experience.

"For only having run three races in all this time I was really impressed," Espinoza said.

"He's all professional and when I turned for home I was just galloping and he knew what to do.

"So I believe I have a good chance to win, although Curlin is very tough. You never know, it's a different track."

Casino Drive's breeding has already proven the undoing of Curlin once, with half-sister Rags To Riches, also out of the mare Better Than Honour, having won the Belmont Stakes in 2007.

"I'm not going to be afraid to use my horse or let it run because the pedigree is there," Espinoza said.

"The sister (Rags To Riches) beat Curlin in the Belmont and that gives me confidence when he goes to the race. I think he's going to do good.

"He's a big horse, a strong horse, with a lot of power. He's a got a long stride and I think he's just different to any other horse I've ridden.

"For such a big size he's a smooth ride, he doesn't hit the ground hard like other horses and covers a lot of ground and that's very important for me."