I can’t type the word TOKYO without first typing TO KY! For the initial time in history, there has been established a special Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Tokyo Racecourse was literally the road for one special horse in the 143rd KY Derby.
Tokyo Racecourse opened in 1933. It is the largest racecourse in Japan. Both Thoroughbred and Steeplechase races take place here. They have three tracks on this site. The racecourse is located in the city of Fuchu in Tokyo, Japan.
Last year we were treated with the lovable, laughable and legendary Lani through all three legs of the Triple Crown. Lani finished 9th in the 2016 KY Derby, he was 5th in the Preakness and 3rd in the Belmont. Lani was bred in KY but he is a Japan based horse. He is the 4 year-old grey son of Tapit (KY) and Heavenly Romance (JPN). Lani got the points he needed to qualify for the KY Derby when he won the UAE Derby. Lani is currently prepping for the Dubai World Cup. He is quite the character and a champion as well.
Perhaps, Lani was the inspiration? Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Japan Racing Association joined forces to create the Japan Road to the KY Derby. 2 races at Tokyo Racecourse awarded special KY Derby points. The horse with the most points received an invite to the KY Derby.
Tokyo Racecourse holds many quality horse races. The Cattleya Sho Stakes and the Hyacinth Stakes are the 2 races that make the Japan Road to the KY Derby. The February Stakes is the first “Win and You’re In” race for an automatic berth into the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Cattleya Sho is a 1 mile (measured in meters in Japan, thus 1600m) dirt race for 2 year-olds. The purse is 19.3 million Yen. In 2015, Lani was the winner! On the 2017 Japan Road to the KY Derby Mont Saint Legame won 40 points, on 11/26/16. That race awarded Caucus, in 2nd place, 16 points, Blanc Eclat, in 3rd, 8 points and Lavapies, 4th place, received 4 points.
The Hyacinth is also a dirt mile race. It is open to 3 year-olds and has a purse of 34.2 million Yen. Gold Dream won in 2016. The Hyacinth took place today, as I was sleeping, thus the picture of my pillow with the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs, home of the KY Derby. At 12:25 A.M. EST on 2/19/17, 4 more horses gathered Japan Road to the KY Derby points. This race awarded 50 points to win, 20 to place, 10 to show and 5 for the 4th place finisher. The points went to the undefeated Epicharis, Adirato in 2nd, Hypernova in 3rd and Foggy Night finished 4th. The Japan Road to the KY Derby leaves Epicharis with the most points, thus he gets a place in the 2017 KY Derby if his connections choose to accept it. If not, it is then offered to the horse with the 2nd most points, Mont Saint Legame, and finally the 3rd most points, Adirato, before taking the berth off the table. It is worth noting, the Belmont Stakes are offering additional money of $1 million dollars if a Japan horse wins. That seems like a great incentive! Epicharis is the offspring of Gold Allure and Stapes Mitsuko. Epicharis’ connections are: jockey, Christophe Lemaire, trainer, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, owner, U. Carrot Farm and breeder, Masatsugu Kamada. I’m looking forward to seeing Epicharis in the KY Derby. I wonder who will fill the other 19 available positions?
Other Japanese horses may still enter the KY Derby if they finish in the top 4 in the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecouse in Dubai on 3/25/17. That race awards 100-40-20-10 KY Derby points to the top 4 horses in respective order.
Meanwhile, while I was snoozing, the February Stakes took place at 1:40 A.M EST today. The February is a grade 1 dirt race for horses 4 and older. It is also a mile in length, in the U.S. we would say it was about 8 furlongs. The race carries a purse of 189.74 million Yen. This race was inaugurated in 1984. Moanin won in 2016. The 2017 winner is last year’s Hyacinth winner, Gold Dream! We will see him in the BC Classic. Gold Dream has the same sire as the the current Hyacinth winner, Epicharis, does. That sire is Gold Allure. Gold Dream’s dam is Mont Vert. Gold Dream’s team is: jockey, Mirco Demuro, trainer Osamu Hirata, owner, Katsumi Yoshida and breeder, Northern Farm. The February Stakes also an important prep race for the UAE Derby. In the February Stakes Best Warrior finished 2nd, Kafuji Take was 3rd and A Shin Bakken finished 4th. Keep watching “Win and You’re In” races to see what the rest of the BC Classic field is made of.
Congratulations to all of these Japanese winners. I am looking forward to seeing them in our best American races. The fields for the KY Derby and BC Classic are a work in progress. Thank you for reading and stay with me for more racing stories and all things Thoroughbred related.
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