For the third consecutive 12 months, Japan-based horses will take part within the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve. As proficient runners proceed to reach annually from Japan, the identical assertion may be heard Derby week on the Churchill Downs backstretch: “Japan goes to win one finally.”
Without end Younger will enter the beginning gate Might 4 as, what many are calling, the colt that offers Japan its greatest likelihood but earn the roses. An ideal 5-for-5, Without end Younger has already received in three completely different nations whereas incomes greater than $2 million, due to victories within the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis The Royal.
In the meantime, T O Password is an neglected colt who has solely gotten stronger from his experiences. Undefeated by way of two begins in Japan – each races whereas setting the tempo – T O Password earned the highest spot on the Japan Highway to the Kentucky Derby collection of qualifying races and have become the first-ever high level earner to simply accept the invite.
Each colts appear like legit gamers to make the 150th Derby much more historic.
For Japan, the latest Derby years have seen a little bit of a crew strategy that continues in 2024.
“Different Japanese connections are nice pals, all of us,” mentioned T O Password’s coach Daisuke Takayanagi in remarks translated by racing supervisor Hiroshi Ando. “That’s why everyone advised me numerous data from their experiences.”
Takayanagi has by no means raced within the Kentucky Derby earlier than, however says he has studied American racing up to now.
“I got here and studied American racing a very long time in the past,” Takayanagi mentioned. “I used to be right here, I needed to point out my title and present everybody I’m right here. Additionally, I used to be watching Churchill Downs racing. I needed to hitch the Kentucky Derby sooner or later. I needed to point out the Japanese racing followers, too. That’s why I got here right here.”
Without end Younger’s coach Yoshito Yahagi has Kentucky Derby expertise even supposing Without end Younger will probably be listed as his first starter within the race. In 2023, Yahagi-trained Continuar accepted the Japan Highway to the Kentucky Derby invitation because the third-leading level earner within the collection however noticed his kind steadily decline upon arriving at Churchill. Finally, he was scratched simply days earlier than the race.
“The most important concern in North America is the monitor could be very, very arduous,” Yahagi mentioned by way of Ando. “The bottom is the toughest place on this planet.”
Except for the journey and costly quarantine course of, adjusting to the more durable monitor floor is a significant hurdle for Japanese horses to clear. Nonetheless, information of this distinction, now handed to this 12 months’s Japanese connections, might assist them make changes in an effort to obtain Derby success sooner or later.
Japan’s latest makes an attempt to win the roses started in 2016 when Lani, a Kentucky-bred colt based mostly in Japan, completed ninth within the Derby after profitable the UAE Derby. He would full all three jewels of the Triple Crown, together with a third-place end within the Belmont Stakes.
The next 12 months, Churchill Downs unveiled official Derby prep races to be held in Japan with an invite to compete prolonged to 1 horse. Grasp Fencer was the primary to simply accept in 2019, ending sixth within the Derby and fifth within the Belmont.
After two years of Covid-related journey points, Japan returned to the Derby in 2022 with Crown Pleasure, winner of the UAE Derby. After chasing a traditionally quick tempo within the Derby, he would fade to complete 13th. In 2023, a report three Japanese horses entered the Derby. UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake would end sixth after brushing the gate initially, Japan-invite Continuar would scratch, and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Mandarin Hero completed 12th. Derma Sotogake would come again to run second within the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Santa Anita Park.
Regardless of the scratch of Continuar from final 12 months’s Kentucky Derby, Yahagi and jockey Ryusei Sakai stayed to expertise the occasion, in hopes the information would help them ought to they ever return. Sakai is scheduled to experience Susumu Fujita’s Without end Younger this 12 months.
“The most important expertise for us was that Kentucky Derby day ambiance,” mentioned Yahagi, who tallied two memorable wins for Japan throughout the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar. “This time, I can share that have to all my secure. That’s an enormous assist for us.”
Sakai echoed that sentiment. Via remarks translated by Churchill Downs Asia consultant Kate Hunter, Sakai mentioned that witnessing the crowds and every part the horse will encounter on Derby day makes him really feel extra assured in himself having the ability to experience Without end Younger to the Derby winner’s circle.
Whether or not win or lose, every time a Japanese horse competes within the Derby, classes will probably be realized to raised assist the subsequent one. Regardless of the chance of various trainers sending horses annually, the power to see how every Japan-based horse qualifies and prepares will solely assist future trainers make the proper selections. Every try on the Derby brings the stable gold trophy one step nearer to residing in Japan.