By Alan Carasso
Delta Barows (Into Mischief), who opened his account at first asking with an impressive four-length success over a rain-affected Tokyo turf course Oct. 21, may make his next start on the dirt, according to a report on Yahoo Japan.
A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling and $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile bred by John Oxley, Delta Barows was hammered at the windows for the 1600-meter test last Saturday and was off as the 3-2 favorite in the full field of 18 newcomers. Away smartly, the bay colt settled in second down the back of the course, was roused to the front in upper stretch and increased his margin to the wire (video).
Though he excelled on the grass, Delta Barows is bred to be even better on the dirt. His dam, Sweet Seventeen (Hard Spun), raced for Oxley's wife Debby and was trained by Graham Motion to a popular victory in the 2012 Busher S. at Aqueduct. Delta Barows is her first produce. Sweet Seventeen is the best foal out of John Oxley's Play Ballado (Saint Ballado), a restricted stakes winner and twice Grade II-placed on the dirt.
Delta Barows could potentially try the main track for the first time in the Nov. 25 Cattleya Sho (1600m) at Tokyo, the first of three Japanese races that offer points along the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” The series continues with the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Dec. 13 and concludes with the Hyacinth S. in February, a race won in 2017 by subsequent G2 UAE Derby runner-up Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}). Delta Barows's owner Hirotsugu Ikonuma also campaigned 2015 Hyacinth S. hero Golden Barows (Tapit).
The Cattleya Sho and Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun offer points on a 10-4-2-1 scale while the Hyacinth S. will carry point values of 30-12-6-3. The horse that accumulates the most points in the three races will be guaranteed a berth in the 2018 GI Kentucky Derby.
Only two Japanese horses have participated in the 'Run for the Roses': Ski Captain (Storm Bird), 14th in 1995; and Lani (Tapit), ninth in 2016.
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