Japan: Peptide Nile shocks in February Stakes, earns Breeders' Cup berth

The longshot Peptide Nile was a shocking winner of Sunday’s Grade 1 February Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, earning a berth to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Also on Sunday’s program at Tokyo, Ramjet won the $241,100 Hyacinth Stakes, the third of four races in a Kentucky Derby qualifying series for Japanese-based runners.

Peptide Nile paid $107.10 in American pools. Only two other horses went off at longer prices in a field of 16 in the $1.55 million February Stakes, run on dirt.

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Ridden by Yusuke Fujioka, Peptide Nile raced as a stalker to early stretch before taking the lead. A 6-year-old horse, Peptide Nile pulled clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 16-1 Gaia Force. Peptide Nile was timed in 1:33.5, a course record.

Sekifu (60-1) finished third, beaten two lengths, while 6-5 favorite Omega Guiness could only finish 14th, fading in the stretch.

Peptide Nile won for the eighth time in his 20th start in the February Stakes, his Grade 1 debut. He won two listed stakes at 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles on dirt in 2023.

By King Kamehameha, Peptide Nile races for Kazuhiuko Numakawa and trainer Hidenori Take.

Peptide Nile’s assignment in the February Stakes was made slightly easier through the absence of Lemon Pop, Japan’s 2023 dirt champion. Lemon Pop is expected to start in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Ramjet, a winner of 3 of 5 starts, closed from off the pace while wide to win his 3-year-old debut in the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile.

Ramjet ($24.10) finished three lengths clear of 8-5 favorite Unquenchable, with 33-1 Habire a nose behind in third.

Ramjet and Habire were two of the four runners in the Hyacinth Stakes that were nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year.

Ramjet, a Japanese-bred colt by Majestic Warrior, earned 30 points for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4 and leads the qualifying standings in Japan.

The last of the four races in the series is the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on March 23. The first five finishers of the Fukuryu earn 40-20-12-8-4 qualifying points.

One berth in the Kentucky Derby field is available to the Japanese-based runner with the highest qualifying points from the series. Since 1995, there have been six Japanese-based runners start in the Kentucky Derby, including Derma Sotogake and Mandarin Hero, who finished sixth and 12th in 2023.

Derma Sotogake and Mandarin Hero qualified to the Kentucky Derby by earning points in the United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai and the Santa Anita Derby. Derma Sotogake was later second in the BC Classic at Santa Anita last November.

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