Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Kicks Off With Cattleya Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

A field of 16 juveniles–13 colts and a trio of fillies–will head to the Tokyo 1600-meter start for Saturday's $199,488 Cattleya Stakes (allowance), a contest that serves as the first of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

American-breds comprise a quarter of the field and Godolphin homebred Snappy Dresser (Union Rags) is the best-backed of the foursome at just over 5-2 in early wagering. A full-brother to MGSW & GISP Caramel Swirl, the May 19 foal debuted in a 1400-meter newcomers' event over this surface Oct. 20, sweeping into contention off the final corner before streaking away from his rivals to graduate by a very impressive 11 lengths (see below, SC 11). Ryusei Sakai, the regular rider of GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic third Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and who rides reigning champion dirt horse Lemon Pop for Godolphin, has the assignment on Saturday.

 

 

Ryan Moore, who is set to partner with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, picks up the mount on Dragon Welds (Frosted), a $72,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $150,000 OBS April breezer who also won his maiden first time out, scoring by nine convincing lengths over 1400 meters at Kyoto Oct. 5 (see below, SC 10).

 

 

Former jockey Yuichi Fukunaga trains the filly Malibu Orange (Vekoma), a $325,000 KEESEP acquisition who won her maiden over this course and distance at first asking over a rain-affected strip Oct. 6. The Mar. 22 foal is a half-sister to Coasted (Tizway), the dam of Japan Cup runner Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and MGSP Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

T O Elvis (Volatile) was a debut third on the grass in September and validated 3-5 favoritism in romping by 9 1/2 lengths in his first start on the dirt at Kyoto Oct. 5.

Japan's two top chances are Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), the six-length winner of a two-turn newcomers' race at Sapporo in July; and Clay King (Jpn), a son of leading first-crop sire Nadal who opened his account at first asking going seven furlongs June 15 ahead of a third to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies also-ran American Bikini (Jpn) (American Pharoah) at Chukyo Sept. 28.

The Japanese Road to the Derby continues with the Dec. 11 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, a race won by Forever Young last year, the Listed Hyacinth Stakes back at Tokyo Feb. 16 and the Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Mar. 22.

The post Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Kicks Off With Cattleya Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article