Admire Daytona prevails in U.A.E. Derby photo finish to earn Kentucky Derby berth
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Admire Daytona earned a trip to the $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3 with an upset win in Saturday’s Grade 2 United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Admire Daytona was not nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year, but trainer Yukihiro Kato told Meydan publicity that the colt would be sent to Kentucky.
Admire Daytona can be nominated for $6,000 on Monday.
Admire Daytona had his first start beyond a mile and outside of Japan in the U.A.E. Derby, edging an unlucky Heart of Honor by a nose. Heart of Honor appeared to lead in the stride before and after the finish.
The first two finishers of the $1 million U.A.E. Derby at 1 3/16 miles earned 100 and 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3 through the Europe-Middle East qualifying series. As many as two runners from the series can advance to the Kentucky Derby. Admire Daytona and Heart of Honor finished in the top two positions in the rankings. It was not immediately clear whether Heart of Honor would be sent to the Kentucky Derby.
The U.A.E. Derby field had one American-based runner in Flood Zone, who won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 1. Flood Zone, trained by Brad Cox, raced in the middle of a field of nine in the U.A.E. Derby and was not a factor in the final half-mile, finishing seventh by 17 1/2 lengths. Flood Zone was the 2-1 favorite in American pools.
Admire Daytona ($22.20) disputed the early lead under jockey Christophe Lemaire. Racing on the inside, Admire Daytona set the pace and was challenged in early stretch by 5-2 Heart of Honor, who was two wide, and Don in the Mood, who raced three wide. Don in the Mood faded in the final sixteenth, leaving Admire Daytona and Heart of Honor dueling to the finish.
Lemaire said the Kentucky Derby is worth a trip with Admire Daytona.
“For sure he can go to Kentucky, but it is such a difficult race to win,” he said. “It is one of the most iconic races in the world and we have to go if we can.
“Honestly, I thought I’d won, but it was very tight so you never get too happy, too early.”
Admire Daytona, by Drefong, has won 2 of 6 starts. He won his 3-year-old debut by four lengths in a one-mile maiden race at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 8, his fourth career start, and was fourth behind Luxor Cafe in the Hyacinth Stakes in Tokyo on Feb. 23.
Luxor Cafe later won the Fukuryu Stakes in March to secure a berth in the Japanese Kentucky Derby qualifying series. It is not yet clear whether Luxor Cafe will be sent to Kentucky.
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