Up With the Birds accepts Japan Cup invitation

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running second in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes on Oct. 11 at Belmont Park, Up With the Birds will head to Japan for his next start to run in the Group 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 30.

“It’s a big honor just to be invited,” trainer Malcolm Pierce said.

Pierce said officials from the Japan Racing Association formally invited Up With the Birds to the Japan Cup in mid-September. Owner Sam-Son Farm made a final decision earlier this week after the horse returned to Woodbine from New York.

“It took a while [to make a decision],” Pierce said. “We waited to see that he came out of the Knickerbocker in good order, but we pretty much made our decision the day after the race.”

Pierce said Up With the Birds will train up to the Japan Cup at Woodbine and will fly out on Nov. 15 in order to ensure he’ll get at least a week to train over the course at Tokyo.

“It looks like we’ll fly out of Chicago,” he said. “The choices were Chicago or New York. They stop over in Anchorage to refuel. It’s a long flight for the horses. I think it’s a 15-hour flight.”