Le Vent Se Leve Earns Derby Points in Japan
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Photo: Katsumi Saito
Undefeated Le Vent Se Leve takes the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, the second qualifying race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby
Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn), a son of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Jpn), won the second leg of the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby," the Dec. 13 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, earning 10 points toward a potential start in the 2018 Run for the Roses.
The colt was off a step slowly in the one-mile event, run on dirt at the regional track, but with Mirco Demuro in the irons, he was clearly the best, and ran on to win by one length, geared down in the late going. He improved his record to 3-for-3.
Don Fortis (Jpn) earned 4 points for finishing second, three lengths ahead of Haseno Pyro (Jpn), who garnered 2 points. Dark Repulser (Jpn) earned 1 point for a fourth-place showing.
The third and final points race in Japan, the Feb. 18 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, likely will be a showdown between Le Vent Se Leve and the winner of the first Derby points race, Ruggero (Jpn). The Hyacinth, which offers 30 points to the winner, could also produce an entirely new contender to earn the right of first refusal for the Derby spot.
Le Vent Se Leve is out of the winning mare Maestrale, a daughter of Japanese champion Neo Universe (Jpn). Neo Universe is by the dominant Japanese sire influence Sunday Silence, winner of the first two legs of the 1989 U.S. Triple Crown.