Behkabad Colt Takes Kentucky Derby Prep in Japan

[Wandering Eyes]

Tsuru Nishimori’s Der Flug (Jpn) (Behkabad {Fr}) preserved his perfect record with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Fukuryu S. over 1800 meters at Nakayama on Sunday. A winner over track and trip on debut Dec. 2 and in the Kurochiku Sho on Jan. 13, the bay was sent off heavily favored at 3-5 and trailed the field from the bell. A touch eager entering the first corner, he improved a spot on the backstretch and made steady progress a quarter mile from home. Five deep entering the lane, he kept finding down the stretch to win comfortably, while Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}), who had kept him company at the rear of the field for most of the race, surged late for second-place honors. The Pyro filly Rhein Carina (Jpn) was another three lengths back in third.

Following that victory, Der Flug earned 40 points on the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby and sits atop the leaderboard, with Master Fencer (+16) bringing his total to 19 points-fourth overall-and Rhein Carina is eighth with eight points. However, the highest-ranked horse currently nominated to the Triple Crown on the leaderboard is Master Fencer. A late Triple Crown nomination payment of $6,000 is due on Monday, before the Japanese standings are finalized.

Pai Guniang (Jpn) (French Deputy), out of the SP Paian (Jpn) (Cozzene), has a juvenile colt by Espoir City (Jpn) as her last recorded produce. Paian herself is a half-sister to MGSW and G1 Sprinters S. third Kanoya Zakura (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}).

FUKURYU S., ¥34,460,000 (US$310,793/£238,317/€276,939), Nakayama, 3-31, 3yo, 1800m, 1:53.20, ft.
1–DER FLUG (JPN), 123, c, 3, Behkabad (Fr)
                1st Dam: Pai Guniang (Jpn), by French Deputy
                2nd Dam: Paian (Jpn), by Cozzene
                3rd Dam: Woodmans Chic, by Woodman
   O-Tsuru Nishimori; B-Takae Bokujo (Jpn); T-Nobuhiro Suzuki;
J-Akihide Tsumura. ¥18,182,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0,
¥35,553,000.
2–Master Fencer (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Just a Way (Jpn)–Sexy
Zamurai, by Deputy Minister. O/B-Katsumi Yoshizawa (Jpn);
T-Koichi Tsunoda. ¥7,252,000.
3–Rhein Carina (Jpn), 119, f, 3, Pyro–Faire Coucou (Jpn), by
Alamshar (Ire). O-Shigemasa Osawa; B-Nisshin Farm (Jpn);
T-Yoshinori Muto. ¥4,526,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3, 4. Odds: 0.60, 10.90, 29.40.
Also Ran: Black Warrior (Jpn), Nova Lenda (Jpn), Nanyo Izayoi (Jpn), Gold Lagoon (Jpn), Cameron (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart or JRA video.

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