Can Justin Milano Extend Japanese Triple Crown Bid?

May 26 at Tokyo Racecourse, Justin Milano will try to do what Mystik Dan  couldn't eight days earlier at Pimlico Race Course—extend his Triple Crown bid with a Derby victory.

This time it's the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) up for grabs. Justin Milano, a Kizuna  colt, kept his undefeated record intact with a victory in the first leg of the Japanese series, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) April 14 at Nakayama.

That was only the third career start for the Yasuo Tomomichi trainee, who started his career going 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on the Tokyo course. In February, he doubled up with a win at 1,800 meters in the Kyodo News Hai (G3), then won the Satsuki Sho by a neck in record time of 1:57.1.

Seven 3-year-olds before him have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown with a perfect record and Tomomichi, who has won the race three times, said he is not intimidated by the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) of the Tokyo Yushun.

"He has a big stride and races well in tune with the rider," Tomomichi said of Justin Milano. "He can maintain good speed over distance and the change to Tokyo will be a plus. I think he'll be able to handle the distance. There are horses he hasn't gone up against yet but he should do well if he runs his own race."

One of those Justin Milano has gone up against—and beaten—is Regaleira, the only filly entered for the Derby. Winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) against males in December, the daughter of Suave Richard  was favorite in the Guineas but was squeezed back to near last at the break. She still managed to make up a lot of ground with her usual late effort to finish sixth.

Regaleira is reunited with jockey Christophe Lemaire, who was sidelined by injury for the Satsuki Sho.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura provided a somewhat mystifying look at his preparations since that last race.

"After some reflection," he said, "I decided this time to not get her in tiptop shape, but to have her where she usually is. I think something like, 'We just made it in time for the race,' is a better picture to have in mind ... We'll try our best to bring out her best."

The newcomers Tomimichi mentioned include Sixpence. Like Justin Milano, he is undefeated after three starts. And, like Justin Milano, his sire is Kizuna, whose star is very much in the ascendant in Japanese breeding. Unlike that rival, Sixpence has not yet contested a grade 1 race and has not tried the Tokyo course, and the track's long, uphill stretch challenge might not be totally suited to his close-to-the-pace running style.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda said he withheld Sixpence from the Satsuki Sho to maintain a "relaxed schedule" as the Derby always was his main target.

Cosmo Kuranda, by Al Ain , returns from a second-place finish in the Satsuki Sho and is one of the more experienced contenders with eight starts to his credit. Only two were victories but the colt seems to have picked things up since turning 3.

Urban Chic, another by Suave Richard, finished fourth in the Satsuki Sho and returns.