Sons of American Pharoah step up in Hyacinth at Tokyo

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby will take a major turn when Tokyo Racecourse hosts the Hyacinth Stakes on Sunday.

The 1,600-meter race has produced a pair of Kentucky Derby (G1) starters in recent years. Lani used a fifth-place effort in the Hyacinth as a springboard to compete in all three legs of the 2016 Triple Crown, while 2019 runner-up Master Fencer went on to finish sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

With Kentucky Derby qualification points available to the top four finishers on a 30-12-6-3 basis, the Hyacinth has attracted 14 entries. Of particular note to U.S. racing fans are Cafe Pharoah and Nile River, two sons of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Both colts bring promising form to the equation. Cafe Pharoah was tons the best in an 1,800-meter maiden race at Nakayama, where he led all the way to score by 10 lengths. Nile River wasn’t quite so dominant in a 1,600-meter maiden event at Tokyo, but his half-length victory was achieved in the respectable time of 1:39.10, and he sprinted the final 600 meters in a quick :36.50.

Cafe Pharoah and Nile River will put their perfect records at risk against tougher competition in the Hyacinth, but much will be expected from these classily bred youngsters, who are among a half-dozen Hyacinth contenders nominated to the Triple Crown.

Their stiffest challenge might come from fellow Triple Crown nominee Daimei Corrida, who secured two Kentucky Derby qualification points when he finished third by 1 1/2 lengths in the Cattleya Sho over this track and distance in November. A son of Eskendereya, Daimei Corrida has tactical speed and figures to be prominent from the outset Sunday.

The remaining Triple Crown nominees are Yaugau, who picked up leading jockey Christophe Lemaire and is seeking his third straight victory; Tagano Beauty, who will switch back to dirt following a pair of unsuccessful tries against group stakes company on turf; and Longonot, a Godolphin runner who recently won an allowance going 1,600 meters at Tokyo.

Among the rest, Meisho Tensui and Reine Blanche figure to attract the most support. Meisho Tensui, the mount of legendary jockey Yutaka Take, earned two Kentucky Derby qualification points when he finished fourth in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki. Reine Blanche isn’t as experienced, but the daughter of Kurofone is unbeaten and virtually unchallenged in two starts against males and demonstrated a strong finishing kick on both occasions.

Completing the field are Chimera Verite, Jet Max, Taisei Policy, Herrschaft, Morino Break, and the filly Ultramarine. The Hyacinth is the ninth race of the day at Tokyo, with post time scheduled for 12:25 a.m. ET.