Kentucky Derby 2025: Luxor Cafe looks to maintain points lead in Japan's Fukuryu Stakes
Led by the Kentucky-bred colt Luxor Cafe, 15 3-year-olds have been nominated for Saturday’s Fukuryu Stakes at Nayakama Racecourse, the final race of the Japanese qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.
The Fukuryu Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles, a distance that many of the nominees have already tried.
Luxor Cafe, by American Pharoah, has had five starts and has won his last three starts in a maiden race at a mile at Tokyo last November, an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Nayakama on Jan. 11, and the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo on Feb. 23.
The win in the Hyacinth Stakes was worth 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, moving Luxor Cafe into first place in Japan’s qualifying series. The first five finishers of the Fukuryu Stakes receive qualifying points on a scale of 40-20-12-8-4.
The runner with the most points earns a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Luxor Cafe is one eight nominees to the Fukuryu Stakes who were nominated to the American Triple Crown earlier this year. Another nomination stage for the Triple Crown is available by April 7.
Luxor Cafe is the only nominee to the Fukuryu Stakes who has earned points from the first three races of the Japan qualifying series.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Top contenders, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
Aside from Luxor Cafe, there are six other nominees to the Fukuryu Stakes who are multiple winners, including Berber Compass and Isana, the winners of allowance races at 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo Racecourse in January. Both are Triple Crown-nominated.
Last year, T O Password won the Fukuryu Stakes at 13-1 against 10 rivals and finished fifth by 6 1/2 lengths behind Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.