Japan: Mama Cocha leads huge field in Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Mama Cocha, the 2023 champion sprinter in Japan, and Victor the Winner, a recent surprise Group 1 sprint winner in Hong Kong, are part of a massive field of 18 in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

The $2.17 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen is the first Grade 1 of the year on turf in Japan, preceded by the February Stakes on dirt.

Mama Cocha won her Grade 1 debut in her 13th start in the Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs at Nakayama Racecourse last October. Sunday’s race will be Mama Cocha’s first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Hanshin Cup at seven furlongs at Hanshin on Dec. 23.

A 5-year-old mare, Mama Cocha has won 6 of 14 starts, frequently racing from slightly off the pace.

Victor the Winner, who has won 7 of 14 starts, tends to run closer to the front, a style that led to a victory in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup in a 37-1 upset at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on Jan. 28. The victory ended a five-race losing streak since September.

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The 5-year-olds Mad Cool, a horse, and Namura Clair, a mare, were second and third in the Sprinters Stakes last October and start on Sunday after recent losses.

Mad Cool has not raced since he finished eighth of 10 in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December, a race in which Victor the Winner finished fourth.

Namura Clair had an encouraging start to her 2024 season with a second by a neck to So Dazzling in the Grade 2 Himba Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Kyoto on Feb. 17. Namura Clair closed from 14th of 18 to be closest to the front at the finish.

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So Dazzling won her first graded stakes in the Himba Stakes and will have her Grade 1 debut in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 a.m. Pacific on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby series concludes

The $228,100 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, the last of four qualifying races in Japan for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, goes Saturday with a field of 11.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Fukuryu Stakes drew five entrants who were early nominees for the American Triple Crown, a group that does not include La Oracion or Rata Forest, the first two choices in early betting.

La Oracion has won 2 of 5 starts, including an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama on Feb. 2. Rata Forest has won 2 of 3 starts, the most recent of which was a one-mile allowance race at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 11 in his 2024 debut.

The first five finishers of the Fukuryu Stakes receive qualifying points on a 40-20-12-8-4 scale for the Kentucky Derby. One berth is available to the runner with the most points.

Currently, Ramjet, winner of the Hyacinth Stakes on Feb. 18, leads the standings with 30 points.

Initial nominations for the Triple Clown closed in late January at a cost of $600. Late nominations can be made for $6,000 by April 1.

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