For the third consecutive year, Japan-based horses will participate in the Kentucky Derby (G1). As talented runners continue to arrive each year from Japan, the same statement can be heard Derby week on the Churchill Downs backstretch: "Japan is going to win one eventually."
Forever Young will enter the starting gate May 4 as, what many are calling, the best chance yet for Japan to earn the roses. A perfect 5-for-5, Forever Young has already won in three different countries while earning more than $2 million, thanks to victories in the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2).
Meanwhile, T O Password is an overlooked colt who has only gotten stronger from his experiences. Undefeated through two starts in Japan, both while setting the pace, T O Password earned the top spot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and became the first-ever top point earner to accept the invite.
Both colts look like legitimate players to make the 150th Derby even more historic.
For Japan, the recent Derby years have seen a bit of a team approach that continues this year.
"Other Japanese connections are great friends, all of us," said T O Password's trainer Daisuke Takayanagi in remarks translated by racing manager Hiroshi Ando. "That's why everybody told me a lot of information from their experiences."
Takayangi has never raced in the Kentucky Derby before, but says he has studied American racing in the past.
"I came and studied American racing a long time ago," Takayanagi said. "I was here, I wanted to show my name and show everyone I'm here. Also, I was watching Churchill Downs racing. I wanted to join the Kentucky Derby one day. I wanted to show the Japanese racing fans, too. That's why I came here."
Meanwhile, Forever Young's trainer Yoshito Yahagi has Kentucky Derby experience despite the fact that Forever Young will be listed as his first starter in the race. In 2023 Yahagi-trained Continuar accepted the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitation but saw his form gradually decline upon arriving at Churchill. Ultimately, he was scratched just days before the race.
"The biggest issue in North America is the track is very, very hard," Yahagi said through Ando. "The ground is the hardest place in the world."
Aside from the travel and expensive quarantine process, adjusting to the harder track surface is a major hurdle for Japanese horses to clear. However, knowledge of this difference, now passed to this year's Japanese connections, could help them make adjustments in order to achieve Derby success in the future.
Japan's recent attempts to win the roses began in 2016 when Lani, a Kentucky-bred colt based in Japan, finished ninth in the Derby after winning the UAE Derby. He would complete all three jewels of the Triple Crown, including a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
The following year, Churchill Downs unveiled official Derby prep races to be held in Japan with an invitation to compete extended to one horse. Master Fencer was the first to accept in 2019, finishing sixth in the Derby and fifth in the Belmont.
After two years of Covid-related travel issues, Japan returned to the Derby in 2022 with Crown Pride, winner of the UAE Derby. After chasing a historically fast pace in the Derby, he would fade to finish 13th. In 2023, a record three Japanese horses entered the Derby. UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake would finish sixth after brushing the gate at the start, Japan-invite Continuar would scratch, and Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up Mandarin Hero finished 12th. Derma Sotogake would come back to run second in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Despite the scratch of Continuar last year, Yahagi and jockey Ryusei Sakai stayed to experience the event, in hopes the knowledge would aid them should they ever return. Sakai is scheduled to ride Susumu Fujita's Forever Young this year.
"The biggest experience for us was that Kentucky Derby day atmosphere," Yahagi said. "This time, I can share that experience to all my stable. That's a big help for us."
Sakai echoed that sentiment. Through remarks translated by Churchill Downs Asia representative Kate Hunter, Sakai said that witnessing the crowds and everything the horse will encounter on Derby day makes him feel more confident in himself being able to ride Forever Young to the Derby winner's circle.
Whether win or lose, each time a Japanese horse competes in the Derby, lessons will be learned to better help the next one. Despite the probability of different trainers sending horses each year, the ability to see how each Japan-based horse qualifies and prepares will only help future trainers make the correct decisions. Each attempt at the Derby brings the solid gold trophy one step closer to residing in Japan.
