Master Fencer to Have Regular Rider for Belmont Derby

Japan's Master Fencer has remained in New York following his stateside bid in Triple Crown races and will now take aim at the July 6 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T), the first race in the New York Racing Association's inaugural Turf Triple.

Trained by Koichi Tsunoda, Master Fencer competed in two-thirds of the Triple Crown. He rallied from last and placed sixth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and finished a rallying fifth in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), just a head shy of fourth.

The Japanese-bred son of Just a Way remained at Belmont Park following his Belmont Stakes effort and has continued to train well.

Training assistant Yosuke Kono, who traveled with Master Fencer through the Triple Crown run, which included an extended stay at Keeneland following the Derby, said the colt enjoyed a good training session June 29 on the Belmont dirt training track.

"I let him loosen up his muscles and then did a lap and a half with a light gallop on the training track," said Kono via translator Sean Toriumi.

The Katsumi Yoshizawa homebred, previously piloted by Julien Leparoux, will be reunited with his regular jockey, Suguru Hamanaka, for the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby on the turf course. 

Hamanaka was aboard for both of Master Fencer's wins in Japan. He will jog the colt on the turf Tuesday and then breeze him on the dirt training track Wednesday.

Master Fencer made a pair of starts on turf in Japan at the Belmont Derby distance and finished second and fourth. He galloped over the Belmont turf for the first time a week ago.

"It went very well. He seemed very refreshed and energetic out there," Kono said. "He's run twice before on turf in Japan, and he felt better this time on the turf than he did back home in Japan. He's doing well and seems very happy here."

Tadakazu Obama's Jodie, a 3-year-old daughter of Daiwa Major bred in Japan by Northern Farm, arrived at Belmont Park early Saturday morning to prepare for the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T), which kicks off the Turf Tiara for fillies.

"She shipped well, and we're very satisfied with how she has settled in," said racing manager Hiroshi Ando. "We're happy with how she has responded to her first international flight."

Currently in the care of training assistant Hiroshi Kawano, Jodie will clear quarantine early Monday morning when both trainer Hirofumi Toda and jockey Miyabi Muto are slated to arrive.

"We will be able to train on Monday morning and hope to breeze five furlongs on the grass on Tuesday or Wednesday," Ando said. 

A veteran of nine starts on the turf in Japan, Jodie graduated on debut in Tokyo in June 2018 and followed up with a fourth in the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3) at Niigata going one mile. Two starts later, the filly captured the one-mile Akamatsu Sho at Tokyo in November but was off the board in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) to close her juvenile campaign.

In February, Jodie finished third in the one-mile Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3) and stretched out to 1 1/4 miles in April to finish third in the Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (G2), both at Tokyo. 

Jodie arrives in New York off a 14th-place effort in the 1 1/2-mile Japanese Oaks (G1). Kawano said a turn back in distance for the Belmont Oaks should suit Jodie.

"I think 2,000 meters will be suitable for her," Kawano said. "She's really improved a lot since the Oaks and has gotten better with every run."

The Turf Tiara continues Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course with the inaugural Saratoga Oaks at 1 3/16 miles.