Delicada beats boys in Fukuryu on Japan Road

While Delicada could still become eligible by Monday’s late nomination deadline, owner Teruya Yoshida has an early nominee who just earned his way into the Kentucky Derby. His homebred colt Crown Pride captured the UAE Derby (G2) several hours later Saturday, securing a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May with 100 points on the main leaderboard.

Also a homebred from Yoshida’s Shadai Farm, Delicada was a 7-1 chance in the Fukuryu. The Naohiro Yoshida trainee had won an Oct. 17 race for newcomers and a Dec. 28 allowance, both versus males going about 1 1/8 miles at Hanshin.

Triple Crown-nominated Ho O Roulette was the odds-on favorite after romping in his two prior starts at this track and about 1 1/8-mile trip. Drawn on the rail, Ho O Roulette went forward early, but never established separation in the compact field. Big longshot Peisha Es, whose odds were in excess of 240-1, attended the favorite, and Delicada tracked closely on the outside. 

Turning right-handed for home, Notturno ranged up widest of all to make it a quartet. Ho O Roulette faded under pressure in the stretch, Notturno grabbed a narrow lead, and Peisha Es was threatening to pull a gigantic upset.

Then Delicada found her best stride between them. The gray filly outfinished Notturno by a neck, with Peisha Es another head back, in a final time of 1:52.1. Odilon closed late to take fourth. Notturno’s runner-up effort was good for 16 points, while third and fourth were worth eight and four points, respectively.

Ho O Roulette weakened to fifth, trailed by fellow Triple Crown nominees Jasper Great and Line of Soul. Zeus Bio brought up the rear of the eight-horse field. 

Delicada is a daughter of Grade 1 hero Pyro, who turned the Risen Star (G3)/Louisiana Derby (G2) double at Fair Grounds in 2008. Her dam is the Kurofune mare Bronx Silver. 

It remains to be seen if the Japan Road leaderboard will produce a 2022 Kentucky Derby starter. After Delicada’s 40 points, the next three on the list – Combustion (38), Dry Stout (20), and the aforementioned Notturno (16) – are not early nominees. Geraldo Barows (14 points) is the top scorer among the Triple Crown-nominated, followed by Consigliere (10 points). 

Three years ago, the Japan Road invitation was accepted by Master Fencer, who was fourth in the Hyacinth S. and runner-up in the Fukuryu. Master Fencer competed in two jewels of the Triple Crown. Promoted to sixth in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, the Japanese-bred went on to finish fifth in the Belmont (G1).