Kentucky Derby points up for grabs in Japan’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Dec 12, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby makes an important stop at Kawasaki Racecourse this Wednesday for the running of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun.

Held over 1,600 meters (about one mile) on dirt, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun is Japan’s most important prize for two-year-old dirt runners. In fact, the race’s name can be roughly translated as “the best two-year-old racehorses in all of Japan.”

The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun awards Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. In 2023, the race was won by Derma Sotogake, who went on to win the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai before finishing a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Six months later, Derma Sotogake reiterated his talent by finishing second in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), the richest race in North America.

Derma Sotogake’s success outside of Japan is part of a larger trend. In recent years, Japanese horses have been winning races left and right on the world stage. Their participation in the Kentucky Derby is increasing, with Lani (ninth in 2016), Master Fencer (sixth in 2019), Crown Pride (13th in 2022), and Mandarin Hero (12th in 2023) joining Derma Sotogake in giving the Run for the Roses a try. It may be only a matter of time before a horse from Japan takes top honors in the Kentucky Derby.

Five of the 12 horses in the 2023 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun represent the Japan Racing Association (JRA) circuit, the source of Japan’s best horses. Chief among them is Aigle Noir, the slim favorite in the early betting. A son of 2019 U.S. Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, Aigle Noir finished fourth in his debut on turf but has gone 3-for-3 since switching to dirt, winning a maiden race and the Platanus Sho allowance before adding the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix to his tally.

Forever Young is another strong contender after opening his career with two wins from two starts, including a score in the JBC Two-Year-Old Yushun. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has already enjoyed success sending horses to compete in the U.S., winning Breeders’ Cup races with Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You, so it would come as no surprise to see Forever Young compete at Churchill Downs next spring.

Hyogo Junior Grand Prix 2-3 finishes Satono Phoenix and Seltsam are joined by two-time winner Nasty Weather to round out the JRA representatives in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun field.

デルマソトガケ -- Derma Sotogake (JPN) is the 2yo 🇯🇵 dirt champion & winner of the 2023 🇦🇪 Derby.#TwinSpires brings you another exclusive from Quarantine 1 barn @ChurchillDowns.

Asst. trainer Masanari Tanaka graciously speaks with @TheBrownAndrew.
Translation by @KeibaKate pic.twitter.com/xtGXHnUuGv

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 26, 2023