Japan: Wilson Tesoro, Dura Erede tangle in February Stakes

With the 2023 dirt champion Lemon Pop bound for Saudi Arabia, the Japanese older horse division on dirt lacks a dominant starter in Sunday’s Grade 1 February Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse.

The $1.55 million February Stakes is one of two Grade 1 races on dirt at Japan Racing Association tracks, along with the Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles in December. Lemon Pop, a contender in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24, won both races in 2023.

Wilson Tesoro and Dura Erede, who were second and third in the Champions Cup in December, are part of a field of 16 in the February Stakes, the main race on a Tokyo program that includes the Hyacinth Stakes for 3-year-olds, which is part of Japan’s qualifying program for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

The winner of the February Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2, provided the horse is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program.

Wilson Tesoro, a winner of 7 of 14 starts, had a tough draw in post 14 for the Champions Cup, which starts from a backstretch chute and is run on turf for about 100 yards before joining the dirt track.

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Wilson Tesoro was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Lemon Pop in the Champions Cup, and followed that loss with a second to Ushba Tesoro in the Tokyo Daishoten at 1 1/4 miles at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo on Dec. 29. Wilson Tesoro set the pace before losing by a half-length in the latter race.

Dura Erede was beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the Champions Cup and three-quarters of a length in the Tokyo Daishoten after stalking the pace.

The February Stakes is the dirt debut for the 4-year-old Champagne Color, who has won 3 of 6 starts including the Grade1 NHK Mile for 3-year-olds last May. Champagne Color has not raced since he finished 14th of 18 in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen against a tough field of older horses last June.

The February Stakes has a post time of 1:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 10:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

The $241,100 Hyacinth Stakes at a mile has a projected field of 11, including four colts who were nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year – Ballon d’Or, Habire, Ramjet, and YY Legend.

The Hyacinth Stakes is the 3-year-old debut for Ramjet, a winner of 2 of 4 starts. Ramjet ended his 2023 campaign with a come-from-behind win in an allowance race at seven furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse on Dec. 17.

The Hyacinth Stakes is the third race in a four-race qualifying series in Japan that awards a Kentucky Derby berth to the runner with the highest points. The Hyacinth Stakes offers 30-15-9-6-3 points to the first five finishers.

None of the runners who earned qualifying points in two stakes last year are among the expected starters in the Hyacinth Stakes.

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