The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby starts its four-race journey Nov. 25 at Tokyo Racecourse with the Cattleya Stakes and high hopes among local horsemen that the series will continue to produce candidates for the American classic.
A big field is on tap for the 1,600 meters (about one mile) on the dirt course and early odds indicate the race is a wide-open affair. As usual, American bloodlines are prominent in the 16-horse field.
Amante Bianco, a Henny Hughes colt, is not the least experienced of the Cattleya contenders with two starts under his girth, a career-opening win and a third in a minor, one-mile stakes at Tokyo Oct. 14. He also gets a popularity boost from toting Japan’s leading rider, Christophe Lemaire.
Sonic Star and Bushin are both Kentucky-bred colts by Into Mischief .
William Buick takes the mount on Sonic Star, who won his only previous start Sept. 24 at Hanshin. Bushin, a full brother to 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic , will be in the hands of Genki Maruyama.
Others with early support include Rata Forest, a Pyro colt, and O K Birdie, a filly by Sinister Minister.
The Japan Road continues with the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse Dec. 13 with 20-10-6-4-2 points to the four finishers. The third leg, the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 18 at Tokyo Racecourse, awards points on a 30-15-9-6-3 scale.
Things wrap up with the Fukuryu Stakes March 23 at Nakayama Racecourse with the winner getting 40 points and the placings earning 20-12-8-4.
The series has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner but it has thrown up some contenders and achieved the main goal of Churchill Downs increasing interest about the race in Japan.
Master Fencer , who finished fourth in the series, accepted the invitation to the 2019 Kentucky Derby when the top three points-earners declined. He finished seventh in Louisville, placed sixth after the disqualification of Maximum Security .
Master Fencer went on to finish fifth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and 13th in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July when he was switched to the turf.
Continuar won the 2022 Cattleya and finished third in the overall standings. When overall leader Derma Sotogake qualified outside the Japan Road by winning the UAE Derby (G2) and runner-up Perriere declined the invitation, the bid fell to Continuar.
Derma Sotogake finished sixth in Louisville. Continuar, who also finished third in the UAE Derby, was shipped to Churchill Downs but scratched from the Run for the Roses as trainer Yoshito Yahagi was unhappy with his fitness in the few days before the race.
Churchill Downs officials persist in the series as a way to raise Japanese interest and wagering. For the Japan Racing Association, it is a part of an overall elevation of dirt racing.
In the recent past, the National Association of Racing, administered by local governments, has been the primary sponsor of racing on dirt in Japan. Interest has spiked, however, with success in recent years on dirt tracks in Saudi Arabia and Dubai and in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Churchill Downs sponsors a similar series in England which has been less productive in terms of getting horses into the Churchill Downs starting gate.
The aforementioned UAE Derby is part of the main United States-based Road to the Kentucky Derby series and the 100 points allocated to the winner usually are enough to qualify for the Run for the Roses regardless of earnings in other jurisdictions.
Source : Blood Horse
