Luxor Cafe bolts up in Fukuryu, wins Japan Road invitation to Kentucky Derby

Mar 29, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Luxor Cafe dominated the Fukuryu at Nakayama

Luxor Cafe wrapped up the Japan Road invitation in the Fukuryu at Nakayama (Photo by Yuki Shimono/Kentucky Derby)

Luxor Cafe dominated Saturday’s Fukuryu S. at Nakayama as a 3-10 favorite should, drawing off by five lengths to clinch the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The son of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah could try to emulate his sire at Churchill Downs, if owner Koichi Nishikawa and trainer Noriyuki Hori decide to accept the Derby invitation.

Also the winner of the previous scoring race, the Feb. 23 Hyacinth S. at Tokyo, Luxor Cafe ran away with the Japan Road by amassing a total of 70 points. The Kentucky-bred zoomed to the top of the leaderboard with his 30 points from the Hyacinth, and he added 40 points to his ledger in the Fukuryu, the series finale.

Luxor Cafe prevailed by just a half-length last time over a metric mile, but the added furlong in the Fukuryu helped him to flaunt his superiority. Breaking from the far outside post 11 with the renowned international rider Joao Moreira, the bay was reserved a few lengths off the pace set by Isana. Imhotep, the 4-1 second choice who was expected to be prominent early, never factored after a sluggish start.

Although Luxor Cafe had to cover more ground while parked out wide, he was traveling smartly every step of the way. The favorite swung for home full of run, inhaled the leaders, and powered away. Luxor Cafe sped his final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :36.3, despite coasting late, and finished the 1800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in 1:52.1.

Meisho Zuiun rallied to take second (20 points) by a neck from Golden Cloud (12 points), with Levant Univers (eight points) in fourth and Slazak (four points) fifth. Luxor Cafe and Golden Cloud were the only two early Triple Crown nominees in the top five. Imhotep checked in sixth, followed by Isana, Otamajakushi, Coche Deli, Berber Compass, and Cosmo Conferma.

Luxor Cafe extended his winning streak to four. He broke his maiden in his third try, outdueling Admire Daytona in juvenile record time for Tokyo’s metric mile Nov. 23. Luxor Cafe reappeared in a Jan. 11 allowance at Nakayama and romped by five lengths, in a foreshadowing of his Fukuryu performance over the same track and trip. He was cutting back in distance for the Hyacinth, a listed stakes, but appreciated stretching out again here to advance his scorecard to 6-4-1-0.

Luxor Cafe’s full brother, Cafe Pharoah, topped the 2020 Japan Road for the same connections, but he ended up not venturing to the pandemic-delayed Kentucky Derby (G1) that was staged on Labor Day weekend. Cafe Pharoah went on to reign as Japan’s champion dirt horse of 2022, thanks to his repeat victory in the February (G1) and a score in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai.

Their half-sister, Regal Glory, was also voted a U.S. champion in the same year. Earning the Eclipse Award as champion turf female, Regal Glory crowned her career by repeating in the 2022 Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar. She is by 2011 Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom.

Luxor Cafe, Cafe Pharoah, and Regal Glory are all out of Grade 2 winner Mary’s Follies, a daughter of More Than Ready. While Cafe Pharoah and Regal Glory were bred by the late Paul Pompa, Luxor Cafe was bred by the Coolmore-affiliated Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and Westerberg Ireland ULC in the Bluegrass.

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