Already a prolific winner in his brief career, Costa Nova won his Grade 1 debut in Sunday’s $1.564 million February Stakes for older horses at one mile on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse, earning a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Costa Nova, who paid $10.30 in American pools, was ridden by the Australia-based Rachel King, who is riding in Japan on a short-term license through March 4. King became the first female rider to win a Grade 1 flat race in Japan aboard Costa Nova. Costa Nova, a 5-year-old Japanese-bred horse by Lord Kanaloa, was sixth early in a field of 16. King moved Costa Nova closer to the front with a quarter-mile to the finish and took the lead with a furlong remaining. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Costa Nova finished three-quarters of a length in front of 6-1 Sunrise Zipangu. Mikki Fight, the 5-2 favorite, finished third, beaten two lengths. Peptide Nile, who won the 2024 February Stakes, finished fourth, while the well-regarded Emperor Wakea, a three-time stakes winner, finished fifth. King rode in Japan last winter, recording 17 wins. She primarily rides at tracks in the state of New South Wales in Australia. After Sunday’s win, King reflected on the milestone to Japan Racing Association publicity, saying that was proud “Japan has welcomed me as a jockey and not just a ‘female’ jockey, something that I always strive to be. “I’m one of everyone and we’re treated the same, so I’m always thankful to Japan and all the supporters for welcoming me like that.” Costa Nova, owned by Katsumi Yoshida and trained by Tetsuyma Kimura, has won 7 of 10 starts. He won his graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Negishi Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt at Tokyo on Feb. 2. Two Japanese-based runners earned berths to the BC Classic over the weekend. On Saturday, Forever Young earned a spot by winning the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, Forever Young was third in the Kentucky Derby in May and third in the BC Classic at Del Mar in November in his only two starts in this country. Luxor Café takes Hyacinth Stakes Earlier on Sunday’s program, King won the $242,800 Hyacinth Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on dirt aboard the odds-on favorite Luxor Café. The Hyacinth Stakes was the third of four races in Japan’s qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4. A Kentucky-bred colt by American Pharoah, Luxor Café ($3.80) stalked the pace while racing in fifth and then sixth on the backstretch. Positioned five-wide on the turn, Luxor Café progressed steadily toward the front in early stretch. Luxor Café led with a furlong remaining and finished a half-length in front of the fast-closing filly Promised Gene, a 9-1 chance. The Hyacinth Stakes was the third consecutive win for Luxor Café, who races for Koichi Nishikawa and trainer Noriyui Hori. Luxor Café won a maiden race for 2-year-olds at one mile on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse in his third start in November, and his 3-year-old debut in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama on Jan. 11. Luxor Café, who is nominated to the American Triple Crown, earned 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on Sunday. One berth for the Kentucky Derby is available through Japan’s qualifying series. Last year, T O Password qualified through the Japan series and finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby. This year’s series ends with the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama on March 29. The first five finishers of that race receive 40, 20, 12, 8 and 4 qualifying points. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.