Japan Dirt Derby is Cafe Pharoah's final prep for Kentucky Derby

Cafe Pharoah, an unbeaten Kentucky-bred colt, will have what is expected to be his final prep race for the Kentucky Derby in Wednesday’s $711,694 Japan Dirt Derby at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo.

Judging from his win in the Grade 3 Unicorn Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse on June 21, Cafe Pharoah will be a massive favorite in the Japan Dirt Derby, run at 1 1/4 miles.

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Cafe Pharoah has 70 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, well clear of any active Kentucky Derby prospect in Japan. One berth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5 is allotted to the Japan-based runner with the most points.

Of the eight 3-year-olds in Japan that have earned points and are considered candidates for the Kentucky Derby, the only other runner in the Japan Cup Dirt is Daimei Corrida, who has 2 qualifying points.

Daimei Corrida has won 2 of 10 starts and was second in an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles at Hanshin Racecourse on June 21.

The first four finishers of the Japan Dirt Derby will receive 40, 16, 8 and 4 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The race drew a field of 13.

Cafe Pharoah won the $620,825 Unicorn Stakes by five lengths, stalking the pace before pulling clear under jockey Damian Lane, who has the mount on Wednesday. The race was run on a left-handed course around one turn. The Japan Dirt Derby is run on a right-handed course around two turns.

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Trained by Noriyuki Hori for owner Koichi Nishikawa, Cafe Pharoah is by American Pharoah and was purchased for $475,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s auction of 2-year-olds in training in March 2019.

Cafe Pharoah won his debut last December at Nakayama Racecourse and then the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse in February.

The Japan Dirt Derby field includes the Kentucky-bred colt Full Flat, the winner of the $800,000 Saudi Derby in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 29. Full Flat, by Speightstown, was sixth in the Unicorn Stakes, beaten eight lengths.

Cafe Pharoah is the only undefeated runner in the Japan Dirt Derby. Barnard Loop, a Japanese-bred colt by Lord Kanaloa, has won 3 of 4 starts. Barnard Loop won the Hyogo Championship at about 1 3/16 miles at Sonoda Racecourse on May 6 for his third consecutive win.

Post time for the Japan Dirt Derby is 7:05 a.m., Eastern, or 4:05 a.m., Pacific.