The Hyacinth Stakes is a key race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, contested over a one-turn mile on dirt for 3-year-olds. Run at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo, it serves as an important international prep that can shape which Japan-based contenders stay on the Derby trail.
The 2026 Hyacinth Stakes is scheduled for February 22. Positioned as the third leg of the Japan Road series, it is a pivotal points race that can reshuffle the leaderboard heading into the final qualifier.
The Hyacinth Stakes has become a meaningful reference race for international bettors because it is run on dirt at a true mile, a setup that can reveal tactical speed, kickback tolerance, and finishing power. Recent runnings have produced serious Derby-path form, including Japan Road contenders who later pursued larger international targets.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Luxor Cafe | Rachel King | Noriyuki Hori | 1:37.60 |
| 2024 | Ramjet | Kosei Miura | Shozo Sasaki | 1:36.30 |
| 2023 | Perriere | Yuichi Fukunaga | Yoichi Kuroiwa | 1:37.20 |
| 2022 | Combustion | Yuga Kawada | Keizo Ito | 1:35.30 |
| 2021 | La Perouse | Christophe Patrice Lemaire | Kazuo Fujisawa | 1:36.80 |
| 2020 | Cafe Pharoah | Mirco Demuro | Noriyuki Hori | 1:37.70 |
As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Hyacinth Stakes awards points on a 30-15-9-6-3 scale to the top five finishers, making it one of the most influential stops on the Japan Road.
For online stakes betting, the Hyacinth Stakes is a race to watch closely because it helps separate dirt-capable contenders from “nice on paper” types, especially with a Derby-style mile configuration that often rewards horses who can sit, pounce, and finish under pressure.
