Japan: Café Pharoah gains BC Classic berth with February Stakes triumph
Café Pharoah rallied between horses in early stretch to win Sunday’s Grade 1 February Stakes at a mile on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan for the second consecutive year, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in November.
Ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, Café Pharoah ($11.20) was sixth on the turn and took the lead with a furlong remaining, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over 11-1 T M South Dan. Sodashi, the 5-2 favorite, finished third of 16, fading from contention in the final furlong. Sodashi was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2019.
The $2.02 million February Stakes was the first win for the Kentucky-bred Café Pharoah since the 2021 February Stakes after three consecutive losses. Owned by Koichi Nishikawa and trained by Noriyuki Hori, Café Pharoah was timed in a track record of 1:33.8.
Fukunaga recently returned to riding after being involved in a spill in Hong Kong in December.
Café Pharoah, a 5-year-old horse by American Pharoah, has won 6 of 11 starts since his career began in late 2019. Café Pharoah was purchased for $475,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March 2019.
Japanese-based runners won two races at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar last November, and another group of shippers is expected this year.
Earlier on the Tokyo program, Combustion won the $315,700 Hyacinth Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile to take the lead in Japan’s qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7.
One berth for the Kentucky Derby is available through the Japanese qualifying series.
Combustion was not nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year, but can be made eligible through a $6,000 payment in late March.
In the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile, Combustion ($8.30) rallied on the rail under jockey Yuga Kawada to win by a neck over Geraldo Barrows, who is nominated to the Triple Crown. Sea Vixen, a Kentucky-bred filly by Into Mischief, finished third in the field of 14. Sea Vixen was purchased for $500,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March 2021.
Combustion, a colt by Discreet Cat, has won 3 of 5 starts for Godolphin Racing and trainer Keizo Ito. The Hyacinth Stakes was his first start of 2022 and his first stakes win after two second-place finishes in stakes in November and December.
The Hyacinth Stakes is the first of two stakes with qualifying points this year. The series included two races in 2021 and concludes with the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on March 26.
Combustion has 38 qualifying points. The first four finishers of the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles will earn 40, 16, 8, and 4 points.
Three runners from Japan have started in the Kentucky Derby. Master Fencer had the best result, finishing sixth in 2019.