Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Amante Bianco

Nov 29, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

White Thoroughbreds are rare, and not a single one has won the Kentucky Derby (G1). That could change in 2024 if Amante Bianco enters the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

Amante Bianco entered the Kentucky Derby picture when he rallied to victory in the 2023 Cattleya S. racing 1,600 meters (about one mile) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan. The Cattleya serves as the first leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and awarded Amante Bianco 10 qualification points.

Amante Bianco is a son of accomplished sprinter/miler Henny Hughes, who is best known for siring three-time Breeders’ Cup winner and four-time champion Beholder. Henny Hughes has enjoyed success at stud in Japan, where his progeny have displayed more stamina than Henny Hughes did winning the six-furlong Vosburgh (G1) and seven-furlong King’s Bishop (G1) in the United States.

If you’re wondering where Amante Bianco’s beautiful white coat comes from, he owes it to his dam, Yukichan. The latter is one of many white horses produced by Shirayukihime, a white mare who counts multiple Group 1 winner Sodashi among her most famous descendants. Nine of Shirayukihime’s 10 foals have been white, as have five of Yukichan’s six foals.

Amante Bianco has enjoyed success right from the start. Bred by Northern Farm and owned by Silk Racing Co., the Keisuke Miyata trainee debuted racing 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) over the Tokyto dirt and rallied from seventh place to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:25.5. Following a third-place finish in the 1,600-meter Platanus Sho allowance at Tokyo, Amante Bianco took a step forward in the Cattleya and finished strongly from off the pace to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:37.5.

With two wins and a third from three starts, Amante Bianco has accumulated earnings of ¥26.3 million, which—at current conversion rates—works out to more than $170,000. Given the success Japanese runners have enjoyed abroad in recent years, Amante Bianco could increase that tally significantly if he tackles rich international prizes like the Saudi Derby (G3) and/or UAE Derby (G2) in 2024.

And of course, the Kentucky Derby looms largest of all. Amante Bianco’s regular jockey is Christophe Lemaire, who has previously ridden Japan-based Kentucky Derby starters Crown Pride (13th in 2022) and Derma Sotogake (sixth in 2023). Perhaps Amante Bianco can jump to the next level and rally to victory under the Twin Spires, becoming the first white horse to win the Run for the Roses.