Master Fencer switches to turf for the Belmont Derby

ELMONT, N.Y. – After respectable performances in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, the Japanese-bred and -raced Master Fencer will make one more start in the U.S. in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby at Belmont Park.

Master Fencer was one of 15 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Belmont Derby, the first leg of a new turf triple series instututed by the New York Racing Association. The other two legs are the Saratoga Derby and the Jockey Club Derby. Only 14 will be permitted to run in the Belmont Derby. He’s No Lemon needs a scratch to be able to start.

The Belmont Derby is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf and represents a return to the surface on which Master Fencer began his career as a 2-year-old in Japan. Master Fencer finished second and fourth in two starts on turf before finding more success on dirt.

“You could say he’s a better horse on the dirt, but in general his first race on turf he was not mature enough, but now he’s improving. Maybe he could run on the turf and handle the surface quite well,” trainer Koichi Tsunoda said through an interpreter, Takahiro Uno, on Wednesday. “Also, there’s a big difference between the turf track in Japan and the turf track here. I have the impression the turf track is a bit on the softer side in comparison with Japan. Maybe there will be a possibility for him to handle the softer turf.”

On Wednesday, Master Fencer had his final workout for the Belmont Derby, breezing a half-mile in 51.73 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. The move was scheduled for five furlongs, but under jockey Suguru Hamanaka, Master Fencer went his first eighth in 16.34 seconds. He did get his final quarter in 24.40 seconds.

“His movement was smooth and great,” Tsunoda said.

Master Fencer acquitted himself well in his two Triple Crown races. In the Kentucky Derby, Master Fencer was last of 19 to the top of the lane before finishing with a late run that enabled him to cross the wire seventh, beaten four lengths by Maximum Security. Master Fencer was elevated to sixth after Maximum Security was disqualified to 17th.

In the Belmont. Master Fencer again rallied from last to finish fifth, 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Sir Winston.

“I expected it was going to be a very hot pace,” Tsunoda said. “There was no speed in the early part of the race, so that didn’t work out the way I expected, but he ran great.”

Overall, Tsunoda said, he was “quite satisfied with the level of performance Master Fencer presented in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.” Tsunoda said he would like to come back in future years for the American Triple Crown.

Following the Belmont Derby, Master Fencer will do a one-week quarantine period at Keeneland before traveling back to Japan.

On Tuesday, the Aidan O’Brien trained duo of Blenheim Palace and Cape of Good Hope arrived at Belmont from Ireland for the derby. Each horse has only one win, and Blenheim Palace ran second in a Group 3 stakes at The Curragh last out while Cape of Good Hope was fourth in the French Derby two back.

Trainer Chad Brown entered the quartet of Dermarchelier, Digital Age, Rockemperor, and Standard Deviation.

Others entered in the derby include English Bee, Henley’s Joy, Moon Colony, Seismic Wave, Social Paranoia, and Spinoff.

The Belmont Derby will be broadcast live on NBC in a two-hour broadcast beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern that will include the Belmont Oaks and John A. Nerud, which is is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.