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).
A son of the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Brings a four-race winning streak to Churchill Downs. Jockey has major wins in Australia, Japan, Dubai, and Hong Kong, and is known as “Magic Man.’’
Ever hear of “Luxor Cafe”?
You will see in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, as Japan has another top contender in the Run for the Roses.
Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and Westerberg Ireland ULC, Luxor Cafe is owned by Koichi Nishikawa.
A year ago, Japan had its best finish in the Kentucky Derby with Forever Young running third in a three-horse photo finish. “Luxor Cafe” has shown he can win close ones and cruise to victory as he did in his last race, the Fukuryu Stakes on March 27.
He was taken wide around the turn for home in the 1 1/8-mile race at Nakayama Racecourse and blew past the field to win by five lengths under jockey Joao (Magic Man) Moreira.
Prior to the Fukuryu, the colt held off the filly Promised Gene by a half-length in the 1-mile Hyacinth Stakes in Tokyo under jockey Rachel King. In that race on Feb. 23, Admire Daytona, who would go on to win the UAE Derby (G2) and earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby, finished fourth. He also edged Admire Daytona by a neck as a 2-year-old, a first sign that “Luxor Cafe” could be a top-notch 3-year-old.
Of course, there are questions. This will be the colt’s first trip outside Japan – the travel portion will be a new experience; trainer Noriyuki Hori, a top conditioner in Japan, has had one starter in America; and a tactical issue: he’s fared best with outside posts, avoiding kickback from other horses that has seen him flinch, but what if he draws inside in a huge field.
Japan is winning all over the globe, so it’s hard to dismiss this colt who comes in with a four-race win streak. However, the travel, new surroundings, and facing much better competition seem too much to overcome.
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.
