Tokyo holds qualifiers for BC Classic, Ky. Derby on Sunday

Two stakes at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan on Sunday – the Grade 1 February Stakes for older horses and the Hyacinth Stakes for 3-year-olds – could produce runners for two of the biggest races in the United States later this year.

The winner of the $1.76 million February Stakes at a mile will receive a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, if nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program.

The first four finishers of the Hyacinth Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on dirt will earn qualifying points for a berth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4. There is one berth available to a Japanese-based runner through a two-race qualifying series that continues with the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Stakes on March 31.

The February Stakes drew a field of 14 led by Gold Dream and Inti.

Gold Dream, second in the 2018 February Stakes, was most recently second to Omega Perfume in the Tokyo Daishoten Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo on Dec. 29. Omega Perfume is part of the February Stakes field.

Inti has won 6 of 7 starts, including the Grade 2 Tokai Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo Racecourse on Jan. 20 in his graded stakes debut. A 5-year-old, Inti was ninth in his debut in 2017 and has won six consecutive starts.

There are two American-bred runners in the race – Copano Kicking, who has won four consecutive starts, and the outsider Moanin. Copano Kicking, a 4-year-old gelding by Spring at Last, and Moanin, a 7-year-old horse by Henny Hughes, were first and fourth in the Grade 3 Negishi Stakes at seven furlongs at Tokyo on Jan. 27.

Copano Kicking was purchased for $100,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The $327,720 Hyacinth Stakes has a field of 12, including the Triple Crown nominees Derma Louvre and Master Fencer.

Derma Louvre, by Pyro, has won 3 of 5 starts, including the minor Hyogo Junior Grand Prix at seven furlongs at Sonoda on Nov. 28. More recently, Derma Louvre was second in the Nisai Yushun at a mile on a sloppy track at Kawasaki on Dec. 19. The Hyacinth Stakes will be Derma Louvre’s 3-year-old debut.

Master Fencer, by the Heart’s Cry stallion Just a Way, has won 2 of 4 starts. He won a maiden race at Hanshin on Dec. 23 and an allowance race at Kyoto on Jan. 14, both at 1 1/8 miles.

There is one American-bred runner in the field in Make Happy, a California-bred by Square Eddie. Make Happy has won 2 of 3 starts, including the Cattleya Sho Stakes at Tokyo in November.

Make Happy, who was bought for $650,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training, was fourth in the Nisai Yushun.