Pyromancer earns Kentucky Derby points with Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun win
Pyromancer won his stakes debut – and remained unbeaten after three starts – with a game victory in Wednesday’s $458,700 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse in Japan, the second of four qualifying races in the country for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Pyromancer, ridden by Mirai Iwata, was always near the front in the race at a mile, stalking pacesetter Idaten Shacho, a New York-bred colt by Goldencents. Pyromancer stayed close to the lead while racing two-wide on the turn and dueled with Best Green through the stretch. Pyromancer held off a late run from the filly Tamamo Freesia to win by a neck.
Tamamo Freesia finished a length in front of Best Green in the field of nine.
Pyromancer, by Pyro, is a Japanese-bred colt trained by Keija Yoshimura for Godolphin Racing. Pyromancer has raced only on dirt. He won a race for first-time starters at 1 1/8 miles at Kyoto on Oct. 5. He also prevailed in a 1 1/8-mile allowance at the same venue on Nov. 2.
With the win in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, Pyromancer leads the Japanese qualifying standings with 20 points. Tamamo Freesia has 10 points, equal to Satono Voyage, who won the Cattleya Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 29 but did not start in Wednesday’s race. The qualifying series continues with the Hyacinth Stakes at a mile at Tokyo Racecourse in February, which offers 30 qualifying points to the winner, and the Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama Racecourse in March, which awards 40 qualifying points to the winner.
The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun has been an important Kentucky Derby prep in the past. In 2023, Forever Young won the race to remain unbeaten in three starts and later finished third in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Forever Young qualified for the Kentucky Derby by winning the United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai that March.
Forever Young was third in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar and won the same race at the same course on Nov. 1 for his 10th win in 13 career starts.
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