The unbeaten Efforia favored in Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse

Efforia has not faced a serious test in two starts in Japan this year, the leading reason the colt is an odds-on favorite for Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.

Unbeaten in four starts, Efforia won the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown – the 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles – by three lengths over Titleholder at Nakayama Racecourse on April 18. Efforia won his stakes debut in a Grade 3 race at 1 1/8 miles by 2 1/2 lengths over Victipharus at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 14.

Titleholder and Victipharus are part of a field of 17 in the $3.81 million Japanese Derby at 1 1/2 miles, but are not rated as leading contenders.

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Efforia, trained by Yuichi Shikato for U. Carrot Farm, drew the rail, which is not an ideal post for his stalking style. Regular rider Takeshi Yokoyama will be entrusted to find a clear trip.

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Since the 2000 Guineas, Efforia has left Yokoyama hopeful that a Japanese Derby win is possible. Through Friday, Yokoyama ranked seventh in the jockey standings at Japan Racing Association tracks.

“He hasn’t dropped his condition since the” 2000 Guineas, Yokoyama told JRA publicists. “He seems to have become stronger. In his last work, he finished off very well, and kept things going after the winning post.”

The Japanese Derby, formally known as the Tokyo Yushun, is a new distance for Efforia, who is by Epiphaneia out of Katie’s Heart. Epiphaneia was second in the 2013 Japanese Derby and won the 2014 Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo. Katie’s Heart won at 1 1/8 miles in a modest career.

The Japanese Derby has a post time of 2:40 a.m., Eastern, on Sunday, or 11:40 a.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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The Japanese Derby will be the first meeting between Efforia and the filly Satono Reinas, who was second by a neck to Sodashi in the Japanese 1000 Guineas for fillies at a mile at Hanshin Racecourse on April 11 in her lone start this year.

Satono Reinas, the only filly in the Japanese Derby, is rated as a clear second choice in early betting.