Cafe Pharoah Locks Down Japan Bid to Kentucky Derby

Cafe Pharoah, a Kentucky-bred son of American Pharoah , has won first call to represent Japan in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the race that started his sire on the way to the 2015 Triple Crown.

And he did it with style. 

Facing several other Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby contenders in the June 21 Unicorn Stakes (G3) on the Tokyo Racecourse dirt, Cafe Pharoah quickly moved into a stalking position from the outside post 16 gate, came to even terms with the pacesetter at the top of the stretch, and kicked away under a hand ride by jockey Damian Lane to win by five lengths.

Full Flat, a Speightstown  colt making his first start since winning the Feb. 29 Samba Saudi Derby Cup in Riyadh, finished sixth. The world traveler was fifth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall at Santa Anita Park.

Cafe Pharoah, out of the More Than Ready  mare Mary's Follies, completed the one mile on a fast track in 1:34.90. He remains undefeated after three starts, including the Hyacinth Stakes over the course and distance in February.

The colt, trained by Noriyuki Hori and owned by Koichi Nishikawa, entered the Unicorn leading the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with 30 points. He earned another 40 with the victory.

One race remains in the series, which was expanded from four races to six when the Kentucky Derby was rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Japan Dirt Derby July 8 at Oi Racecourse also offers 40 points to the winner, but none of his competitors can overcome Cafe Pharoah's 70-point total even with a win in that event.

No. 2 on the list is Dieu du Vin, a Declaration of War colt who finished second in the Unicorn with a late run that was no threat to the winner. He accounted for the first race in the series, the Cattleya Sho, in November, earning 10 points. The 16 added for the Unicorn leaves him with 26. Vacation, who did not contest the Unicorn, is third on the list with 20 points.

The overall leader at the end of the series receives an automatic invitation to the Kentucky Derby. The Japan road is separate from the main points competition encompassing races in the United States and—most years—in Dubai.

Hori customarily does not discuss plans for his runners. Accordingly, he had no comment when asked after the Unicorn about the possibility Cafe Pharoah might follow the path of his sire to the Louisville starting gate. The colt is, however, among the original nominees to the Triple Crown, as are Dieu du Vin and Vacation.

The Japanese series has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner, but it has had an impact on the Triple Crown.

Lani finished third in the 2016 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after off-the-board efforts in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Master Fencer finished fourth in the 2019 series and accepted the invitation to the Derby when the top three points-earners declined. He finished seventh, placed sixth after Maximum Security's disqualification, and went on to finish fifth in the Belmont Stakes.

Cafe Pharoah was bred by Paul Pompa. He was sold at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $475,000.