Grand Prix Boss may challenge unbeaten Frankel after winning NHK Mile in Japan

The most important 3-year-old race of the weekend took place Saturday at Churchill Downs, but 3-year-olds of note were in action around the globe this weekend.

In Japan, Grand Prix Boss came back to his championship-level 2-year-old form in this third start this season, capturing the Group 1 NHK Mile at Tokyo Racecourse by 1 1/2 lengths over Cotillion. Fourth and third in his first two races this season, Grand Prix Boss is reportedly being considered for a trip to England and a start in the St. James Palace Stakes, meaning that the colt would be traveling halfway round the world to lock horns with the brilliant Frankel.

Meanwhile, the Epsom Derby picture is beginning to look nearly as tangled as the Kentucky Derby did in the two weeks leading up to Animal Kingdom’s impressive score Saturday. Pour Moi became the latest Epsom Derby flavor of the moment when he won the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe by 1 1/2 lengths on Saturday at Saint-Cloud in France. Bubble Chic finished second, while favored Vandamar was third. English bookmakers listed Pour Moi, trained by Andre Fabre, at odds as low as 8-1 for the Epsom Derby following the race.

Some betting houses were less taken by Recital’s win Sunday in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in Ireland. Recital is still listed at odds as low as 9-2 for the Derby after beating stablemate Memphis Tennessee by 1 lengths on Sunday, but the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner delivered an uneven performance, racing with his head awkwardly cocked, and failing to stride decisively away from his rivals.