Japan: Danon Bourbon the early favorite to land final Derby points in Fukuryu
The two-time winners Charlie, Danon Bourbon and Libeccio were the focus of early betting for Saturday’s $227,800 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan, the last of the four races in that country’s Kentucky Derby qualifying series.
The first five finishers in the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles earn 40-20-12-8 and 4 qualifying points. The horse with the most points in the series will earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2.
Lucky Kid, winner of the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 20, leads the standings with 30 points. He was a 15-1 outsider in early betting for the Fukuryu Stakes, which has a post time of 2:10 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 11:10 p.m. Pacific on Friday.
Pyromancer and Don Erectus were second with 20 points. Pyromancer is the expected favorite in Saturday’s Group 2 UAE Derby in Dubai. Don Erectus drew the inside post of 10 in the Fukuryu Stakes, but was 15-1 in early betting.
Danon Bourbon, an undefeated Kentucky-bred colt by Maxfield, was the early favorite at 6-5. Danon Bourbon has won twice at Kyoto – a race for first-time starters at 1 1/8 miles last October, and an allowance race at 1 3/16 miles on Feb. 15.
Charlie, a Japanese-bred colt by the Gold Allure stallion Chrysoberyl, won his last start in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama on March 1. Charlie, 2-1 in early betting for the Fukuryu Stakes, was third in the minor Bluebird Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Funabashi Racecourse in January.
Charlie will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who through Friday led all riders at Japan Racing Association tracks, the nation’s premier circuit.
Charlie was not nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year for $600. Late nominations can be made for $6,000 through April 6.
Aside from Danon Bourbon and Lucky Kid, Libeccio is one of five runners in the Fukuryu Stakes that were nominated, along with T O Kaiser and Itterasshai.
Libeccio, a Japanese-bred colt by the Symboli Kris S stallion La Vent Se Leve, has won his last two starts – a maiden race at a mile at Chukyo Racecourse on Dec. 7, and an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Tokyo on Jan. 31. Libeccio was 5-1 as of Friday morning.
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