Both unbeaten, Justin Milano and Sixpence have attractive credentials for Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse. Justin Milano closed from fifth in a field of 17 to win the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Nakayama Racecourse on April 14 for his third win. Sixpence has not raced since he won the Grade 2 Spring Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Nakayama on March 17 for his third win. They start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time against 15 rivals in the $3.89 million Japanese Derby, with the filly Regaleira rated as a major threat. Race tactics will play a major role in the outcome, particularly if Justin Milano can avoid trouble with his stalking style. Considering he won a maiden race for first-time starters at 1 1/4 miles at Tokyo last November, the distance is unlikely to be an issue for the colt, who is by Kizuna. Sixpence has American influences in his pedigree. Also by Kizuna, Sixpence is out of Finley’sluckycharm, the winner of the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in 2018 and six other stakes in an American career from 2015 to 2018. Finley’sluckycharm was purchased for $1.5 million at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale by the prominent Japanese owner and breeder Katsumi Yoshida. Sixpence is Finley’sluckycharm’s first foal to race. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Sixpence was held out of the Japanese 2000 Guineas in favor of giving the colt a break before the Japanese Derby, which is formally known as the Tokyo Yushun. Aside from Justin Milano, a 7-5 favorite in early betting on Friday, and Sixpence, who was 7-1, Japanese bettors have focused on Regaleira, the lone filly in the field. She was 4-1 as of Friday. Regaleira has won 2 of 4 starts. She closed from 15th of 17 to finish sixth by three lengths as the 5-2 favorite in the 2000 Guineas, her 2024 debut. Regaleira beat males last December in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, rallying from 14th of 16. Two longshots capable of a surprise are Cosmo Kuranda, who was second in the 2000 Guineas, and Shin Emperor, who was second in the Hopeful and fifth in the 2000 Guineas. Shin Emperor is a full brother to Sottsass, the winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris in 2020. 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.