Derma Sotogake, Continuar Aim to Make Derby History

Derma Sotogake  wrapped up his serious preparations for the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a focused half-mile move May 2 at Churchill Downs as he tries to make some history in the 1 1/4-mile classic May 6.

This year's field of 20 features a pair of horses aiming to become the first Japan-based runner to win the Kentucky Derby in Hiroyuki Asanuma's Derma Sotogake and Lion Race Horse Co's Continuar , the respective winner and third-place finisher of the UAE Derby (G2) on March 25 at Meydan.

As he points toward that goal, Derma Sotogake completed Tuesday's four-furlong breeze in :49 3/5 on a fast track, 13th fastest of 20 at the distance at Churchill.

"The exercise rider said he felt really well," said Masanari Tanaka, assistant to trainer Hidetaka Otonashi, through a translator. "I think we will go forward in great condition to the Kentucky Derby."

Since winning the 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16-mile) UAE Derby, Derma Sotogake arrived early at Churchill, where he has worked four times since April 19. After losing his first three starts, the switch went on for the son of Mind Your Biscuits  in October as he closed out the season with three straight wins in Japan, capped by a narrow victory in the Zennippon Nisai Yushun at about one mile.

He then finished third at the same distance in the Saudi Cup (G3) to open his 3-year-old season before winning the UAE Derby by 5 1/2 lengths, completing a dominant front-end score. Tanaka said Derma Sotogake is classy enough that he found a way to compete at one mile but takes it to another level as he stretches beyond that distance.

Listed at 10-1 on the morning line for Saturday's 1 1/4-mile test, Derma Sotogake appears to be one of the horses with early speed. Tanaka said jockey Christophe Lemaire, who also was on board in Dubai, will have a chance to see how rivals inside approach the early running. Regardless of where he settles early, Tanaka wants to see Derma Sotogake break well.

"He jumped out of the gate (last race) and he came out really sharp," Tanaka said. "We hope he does the same thing Saturday and comes out of the gate really sharp."

Also Tuesday, trainer Yoshito Yahagi, sporting a jacket that celebrated his 2021 Breeders' Cup winners Marche Lorraine  and Loves Only You , acknowledged that he wished he had more time to prepare Continuar for the Kentucky Derby. Still, he believes he has a good horse, who will face the added challenge of breaking from the outside post in the field of 20.

"For my career and Japanese racing history, it would be really big," Yahagi said when asked what a Derby win would mean to him. "I'm really honored to be joining this big event that is the Kentucky Derby. I'm really, really fortunate."