Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is Saturday (May 3).
Rather than take on his more accomplished rival for a third time, Admire Daytona was sent to Dubai, where he promptly won the UAE Derby (G2), finished first in the Euro-Mideast Road to the Derby, and is at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Beaten twice by Luxor Cafe, in a maiden race (he ran second) and in the Hyacinth Stakes (he ran fourth), the trip to Dubai worked out quite well.
A son of 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) champion Drefong, Admire Daytona uncharacteristically took the lead along the inside and won by a nose at 10-1 odds with Christophe Lemaire aboard, giving Japan a second runner as the country seeks its first Derby win. A year ago, Japan came close when Forever Young, also a UAE Derby winner, ran third in the three-horse photo finish. Admire Daytona has two wins from six starts but has won two of his last three – the two wins coming while stalking the pace.
Like Luxor Cafe’s connections, the owner and trainer have little experience racing in the U.S. This will be trainer Yukihiro Kato’s first Kentucky Derby.
After the UAE Derby win, Lemaire said: “For sure, he can go to Kentucky, but it is such a difficult race to win. It is one of the most iconic races in the world, and we have to go if we can.”
Luxor Cafe qualified for the Derby as the points leader on Japan Road to the Derby, with wins in the Hyacinth and the Fukuryu Stakes.
This is no Forever Young, that’s for sure. Hard to imagine he’s on the same level as many in the Derby field. Toss.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
