Danon Pharaoh Returns in Japan's Road to the KY Derby

The March 28 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse may—or may not—close out the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. If it does, the winner will have first dibs on a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate.

As things stand, the four-race series ends with the Fukuryu Stakes. But with the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) pushed back this year to the first Saturday in September, Churchill Downs officials are considering adding races.

A spokesman said talks are "ongoing" with "plenty of options but nothing to announce just yet."

For potential additions, Churchill Downs could look to the turf and the grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) May 31 at Tokyo and its preliminaries. After the Derby, there are no grade 1 races for straight 3-year-olds in Japan until the Oct. 25 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). 

Or the series could turn to the National Association of Racing, whose local authorities operate primarily on dirt courses. The second leg of the original series was run at Kawasaki, a NAR track.

If none of that pans out, the 40 points awarded to the winner of the Fukuryu will be enough to top the leaderboard and earn the Derby nod since none of the current leaders are in the field. In fact, the only points holders among the 13 are the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Hyacinth Stakes, Yaugau, a Gold Allure colt, and Longonot, a son of Pyro. They hold 6 and 3 points, respectively.

Cattleya Sho winner Dieu du Vin, Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun winner Vacation and Hyacinth Stakes winner Cafe Pharoah all sit this one out, but that does not mean the race is devoid of potential star power.

Danon Pharaoh returns to the series following a two-race absence. The American Pharoah  colt finished fifth in the Nov. 23 Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse but then scored his second career victory Feb. 15 at Kyoto going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the dirt, the same trip as the Fukuryu.

Bred by Northern Racing, Danon Pharaoh fetched ¥194.4 million (US$1.629 million) at the 2018 Japan Racing Horse Association Sale of Yearlings and Weanlings and races for Danox. He is out of Crisp, an El Corredor mare who won the 2010 Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

Danon Pharaoh is nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown. And, yes, that is how they spell the colt's name. It's the "right" way.

Others in the Fukuryu field include:

Miyaji Kokuo, by Victoire Pisa, winner of the 2011 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), and boasts a second and two wins from his three trips. 

Herrschaft, a Kentucky-bred colt by Will Take Charge , has won twice but reported fifth in the Hyacinth. Light Warrior, a Majestic Warrior colt, failed twice on the turf but is 2-for-2 since switching to the dirt. 

Immortal Smoke and Jigen both are by leading 2019 North American sire Into Mischief . Immortal Smoke won twice at 2, while Jigen has found his stride at 3 with two wins and a second out of four starts.

Reine Blanche, the only filly in the field, entered the Hyacinth 2-for-2 but finished 10th in that heat.