The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby gets a reboot in the Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse as none of the runners from the first leg of the series make a return appearance in the second race—a feature won in 2023 by Forever Young (JPN).
Nine 2-year-olds, including two fillies, signed on for the 1,600 meters (about 1 mile), and the field looks slightly more imposing than the one that contested the Cattleya Stakes Nov. 29 at Tokyo Racecourse to get the series started.
Best Green, a Smart Falcon colt out of the Pyro mare Peaceful Joy, is undefeated after four starts, including the Kamakura Kinen over the Kawasaki track Oct. 15. Pyromancer, a Pyro colt, is 2-for-2, with both wins coming at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles).
Cosmo Gigantea, by Danon Ballade, has two wins and two seconds on dirt, sandwiched around a seventh-place finish in the Ivy Stakes on the Tokyo turf course.
Idaten Shacho, a Goldencents colt bred in New York by Willow Brook Stables, broke his maiden in his second start Sept. 13 at Hanshin Racecourse but was overmatched in finishing seventh Oct. 18 at Kyoto. All of his starts were at sprint distances.
The fillies, getting only a 1-kilo weight break, look capable of holding their own. Tamamo Freesia, a daughter of Le Vent Se Leve, is 2-for-2 and won the JBC Nisai Yushun at Mombetsu Racecourse in her last start. Fleur d'Or, by Epiphaneia, was second in the Montetsu heat, run on a sloppy track.
The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun bestows 20 "Road" points upon the winner and 10, 6, 4, and 2 points for the minor placings. The Cattleya Sho winner, Satono Voyage, got 10 points so the Zen-Nippon winner is sure of taking the top spot in the series.
The eventual winner is offered a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby. Forever Young won the Zen-Nippon by 7 lengths in 2023 but then abandoned the series and earned his way into the Run for the Roses with a victory in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai.
The series continues with the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 21 at Tokyo Racecourse and a points schedule of 30 for the winner with 15, 9, 6, and 3 for the next four finishers. The Fukuryu Stakes wraps things up March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse where the first five across the line get 40, 20, 12, 8, and 4 points, respectively.
