Japanese Road to the Derby concludes Saturday with Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama

None of the leading points earners in the Japanese Road to the Derby are entered to contest the series’ final leg, the Fukuryu Stakes on Saturday at Nakayama Racecourse, but the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) dirt contest still drew some talented horses.

Danon Pharoah finished fifth last year in the Cattleya Sho, his only foray onto Japan’s Road to the Derby, but he broke from post 16 in that one-turn mile race and might not have cared for a wet racetrack Nov. 23 at Tokyo. By American Pharoah, and a nominee to the American Triple Crown, Danon Pharoah had a win and a second in his other two starts at 2, and he won a 1,800-meter dirt race at Kyoto in his 3-year-old debut, beating 15 rivals.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

A host of others could have a claim on contention, too, including Yaugu, who sits fifth on the Japanese Road to the Derby leaderboard with the six points he earned finishing third in the Hyacinth Stakes, the Feb. 23 Road to the Derby race over 1,600 meters at Tokyo. Yaugau, by the Sunday Silence stallion Gold Allure and out of a mare by Tiznow, won two of his three starts at age 2, including a victory over Saturday’s 1,800-meter trip.

Longonot, a son of Pyro, finished fourth in the Hyacinth, earning three points, but might be a half-notch below the key players in Saturday’s race.

Cafe Pharoah, the Hyacinth winner, is the leading point-earner with 30 qualifying points. A Kentucky Derby slot is guaranteed to the highest point-earning horse whose connections desire to start, but how that dynamic plays out this year, with the Derby now rescheduled for September, remains to be seen.