JAPAN ADVANCE By Steve Andersen The last time Sol Oriens ran at Tokyo Racecourse the well-regarded colt closed from third to win a maiden race for first-time starters last November. Sol Oriens returns The last time Sol Oriens ran at Tokyo Racecourse, he closed from third to win a race for first-time starters last November. Sol Oriens returns to Tokyo for Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby as the leader of the country’s 3-year-old division. Sol Oriens is undefeated in three starts, including the Grade 3 Keishi Hai and Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas, both at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse in January and April. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  The win in the 2000 Guineas was particularly impressive. Sol Oriens closed with a wide rally from 17th of 18 to win by 1 1/4 lengths. While the $4.3 million Japanese Derby represents a new distance, Sol Oriens should be able to handle the test, considering his performance in the Japanese 2000 Guineas. His pedigree suggests stamina will not be an issue. Sol Oriens is by Kitasan Black, who was 14th in the 2015 Japanese Derby but later won six Grade 1 races at distances ranging from 1 1/2 miles to two miles. Kitasan Black was Japan’s Horse of the Year in 2016 and 2017. The Japanese Derby drew a field of 18 colts, all bred in Japan. Sol Oriens will be ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama for trainer Takehisa Tezuka. Yokoyama will have Sol Oriens positioned off the pace for the first mile. :: Get free PPs for racing at Tokyo. Tastiera and Phantom Thief, second and third in the 2000 Guineas, and Skilfing, the winner of the Grade 2 Hai Aoba Sho at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo on April 29, represent three leading rivals. Skilfing won an allowance race at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo in February in his first start at the distance. Tastiera and Phantom Thief are starting for the first time at 1 1/2 miles in the Japanese Derby. The Japanese Derby will be the Grade 1 debut for Satono Glanz, who has won three consecutive starts, including the Grade 2 Shimbun Hai at 1 3/8 miles at Kyoto on May 6. He tends to run closer to the front than Sol Oriens or Skilfing. The Japanese Derby has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.