Two losses good setup in Japan

Fusaichi Richard will attempt to get back on the winning track Sunday at Nakayama in the $1.96 million Satsuki Sho, or Japanese 2000 Guineas.

A son of Japan Cup Dirt winner Kurofune, Fusaichi Richard is 0 for 2 since having landed the one-mile Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes on Dec. 11.

It may be, however, that narrow losses to Admire Moon in the Grade 3 Kyodo News Service Hai and to Meisho Samson in the Grade 2 Spring Stakes, both at 1 1/8 miles, may have set him up perfectly for Sunday's 1 1/4-mile Guineas.

Admire Moon had previously won the Yayoi Sho, a Grade 2 course-and-distance Guineas prep and may rate a favorite's chance Sunday.