Admire Daytona – Kentucky Derby Context

Admire Daytona dug in gamely when challenged in midstretch of the 1 3/16-mile U.A.E. Derby (G2), earning his way to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a hard-fought nose decision, and became the fourth consecutive winner based in Japan. Forever Young, who finished two noses back in third in last year’s Kentucky Derby, has recorded the best previous finish from a Japanese-based runner, and Admire Daytona figures to be forwardly placed at Churchill Downs after leading all the way in Dubai last time.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby News and Notes

OWNER: Admire Daytona will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for Junko Kondo. Her late husband, Riichi, was known for naming his horses with the “Admire” prefix, campaigning 2007 Japanese Horse of the Year Admire Moon.

TRAINER: Yukihiro Kato will make his first Kentucky Derby appearance.

JOCKEY: Admire Daytona will be the third Kentucky Derby starter for Christophe Lemaire, who finished 13th with Crown Pride in 2022 and sixth with Derma Sotogake the following year. A 45-year-old native of France, Lemaire has been the leading rider by wins in Japan six times since 2017.

BREEDER: Bred in Japan by Northern Racing, who bred third-placer Forever Young last year, Admire Daytona will be the lone internationally bred runner in 2025 Kentucky Derby field. He was purchased as a weanling for approximately $480,000.

SIRE: Sold to Japan after being named champion American sprinter in 2016, Drefong was bred to appreciate longer distances and has passed those bloodlines along to his offspring. By multiple turf champion Gio Ponti and out of a mare by Ghostzapper, the broodmare sire of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Drefong has sired Japanese classic winners and Warp Speed, who finished second in the about two-mile Melbourne Cup (G1).

DAM: Admire Daytona is the first stakes winner out of Ice Pastel, a daughter of 2011 Preakness (G1) winner Shackleford. She’s out of Million Gift, a daughter of 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner Sunday Silence, one of the most influential worldwide sire of the modern era. Hall of Famer Sky Beauty can be found in the immediate female family, which provides encouragement for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance.

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