Ushba Tesoro, Derma Sotogake make comeback starts against one another

Derma Sotogake and Ushba Tesoro, second and fifth in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, will start for the first time in nearly six months in Wednesday’s $278,900 Nippon TV Hai Stakes at Funabashi Racecourse in Tokyo.

Considering their form in international stakes earlier this year, Ushba Tesoro may have an edge over his rival in a prep for expected starts from the pair in the BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Ushba Tesoro also has course experience at Funabashi, having won the 2023 Nippon TV Hai.

The race, run at 1 1/8 miles on a left-handed course over Funabashi’s dirt track, will be the first start for the 7-year-old Ushba Tesoro and 4-year-old Derma Sotogake since they finished second and sixth behind Laurel River in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 30.

Prior to that race, Ushba Tesoro was second by a head to the American-trained Senor Buscador in the $20 million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. Derma Sotogake was fifth by 2 1/4 lengths.

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Derma Sotogake, sixth by eight lengths behind Mage in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, is winless in four starts since the Group 2 UAE Derby in March 2023. He closed from a stalking position to finish a length behind White Abarrio in the BC Classic last November.

Ushba Tesoro, beaten 3 1/4 lengths in the 2023 BC Classic, ended his season with a win in the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten at 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Ooi Racecourse in Japan.

Earlier in 2023, Ushba Tesoro won the Dubai World Cup and was rested through the spring and summer before winning the Nippon TV Hai Stakes.

Wednesday’s race, which drew a field of 13, starts from a chute at the top of the Funabashi stretch and includes a circuit of the seven-furlong track.

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