Japan: Derma Sotogake earns Kentucky Derby qualifying points at Kawasaki Racecourse

Derma Sotogake won his third consecutive start, and first stakes, in Wednesday’s $529,000 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at a mile for 2-year-olds at Kawasaki Racecourse in Japan, earning 20 qualifying points for the 2023 Kentucky Derby on May 6.

Derma Sotogake, finished a head in front of Omatsuri Otoko, who was a length in front of the previously unbeaten Perriere in a field of 14.

The Nisai Yushun was the second race in the four-race series this year. Continuar earned 10 qualifying points by winning the Cattleya Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 26. None of the first five finishers of the Cattleya Stakes were part of the Nisai Yushun field at Kawasaki Racecourse, south of Tokyo.

A Japanese-bred, Derma Sotogake, by the New York-bred five-time stakes winner Mind Your Biscuits, leads the Japanese standings for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, with Continuar (10 points) and Omatsuri Otoko (8) completing the top three.

The series continues with the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 18, and the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on March 25.

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Those races could alter the standings substantially. The first five finishers of the Hyacinth Stakes earn 30-12-9-6-3 points, while the Fukuryu Stakes has point values of 40-16-12-8-4 for the first five finishers.

Derma Sotogake has won his last three races after finishing sixth, fourth and third in his first three starts in maiden races. Derma Sotogake won a maiden race at Chukyo Racecourse at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 6 and an allowance race at Hanshin at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 6. Continuar was second in the Hanshin race.

Ridden by Fuma Matsuwaka for trainer Hidetaka Otonashi, Derma Sotogake took the lead in the final strides from Omatsuri Otoko, who caught early stretch leader Perriere in the final furlong.

Four Japanese-based horses have started in the Kentucky Derby, including Master Fencer, who was sixth in 2019, and Crown Pride who was 13th this year.

Master Fencer qualified for the Kentucky Derby through the Japanese prep races. Crown Pride qualified by winning the UAE Derby in Dubai in March.

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