Euro/Mideast Road: Admire Daytona just holds on in UAE Derby

Apr 05, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Admire Daytona (inside) edges Heart of Honor in the UAE Derby (Photo by Dubai Racing Club)

Junko Kondo’s Admire Daytona bravely withstood a late lunge from Heart of Honor to win Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan. The Japanese shipper clinched an invitation to the Kentucky Derby (G1), banking 100 points to top the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard, and trainer Yukihiro Kato confirmed that he would be bound for Churchill Downs.

Heart of Honor earned 50 points as the near-misser, putting him next in the standings. That would secure him the second invitation via the Euro-Mideast Road, if connections choose to accept.

Gotham (G3) winner Flood Zone, the 2-1 favorite, never got involved, finishing seventh in the nine-horse field.

Admire Daytona, the fourth straight UAE Derby hero from Japan, was flattering the form of Japan Road winner Luxor Cafe. Most recently fourth to Luxor Cafe in the Hyacinth S., Admire Daytona had come within a nose of him in a Tokyo maiden last November in juvenile track-record time.

With Christophe Lemaire aboard for the UAE Derby, Admire Daytona showed much more speed to grab the early lead on the rail. He had no easy time, however, as he endured relentless pressure from Rafid. Just when Admire Daytona put Rafid away on the far turn, he was beset by fresh challenges from Japanese compatriot Don in the Mood and British-bred Heart of Honor.

The trio battled down the stretch, and nearing the wire, Heart of Honor appeared to be grinding his way best between them. As Don in the Mood began to drop back, Heart of Honor ended up drifting out. That proved costly, for Admire Daytona stuck on determinedly on the rail and managed to get his nose in front on the line.

Admire Daytona finished about 1 3/16 miles in 1:59.13 and paid $22.20 as a 10-1 shot. The son of U.S. champion sprinter Drefong improved his record to 6-2-2-0.

Heart of Honor, who was also second in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) and Al Bastakiya, suffered his toughest beat so far in this third jewel of the UAE Triple Crown. Don in the Mood, third in the Hyacinth, took the bronze again, worth 25 points on the Euro/Mideast Road.

None of the top three were nominated to the Triple Crown by the early deadline, but nominees can be added at the next stage that closes April 7.

Japan’s Shin Forever fared best of the early Triple Crown nominees in fourth (15 points). Next came Queen Azteca, the UAE Oaks (G3) winner, who picked up 10 points for fifth. Dragon, Flood Zone, Rafid, and Galactic Star concluded the order of finish.

Now Admire Daytona will try to put up a bold show in the Kentucky Derby like the 2024 UAE Derby star, Forever Young, who just missed when third in an epic stretch run.

Forever Young himself ran later on Saturday at Meydan, winding up third as the odds-on favorite in the Dubai World Cup (G1). The upset winner of the World Cup was another Derby alum, Hit Show, the fifth-placer from the 2023 Run for the Roses.

A nice cool off for Admire Daytona after his 100 point win! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/vMupgKnUpD

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 5, 2025