By Alan Carasso
A field of 16 juveniles–13 colts and a trio of fillies–will head to the Tokyo 1600-meter start for Saturday's $199,488 Cattleya Stakes (allowance), a contest that serves as the first of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
American-breds comprise a quarter of the field and Godolphin homebred Snappy Dresser (Union Rags) is the best-backed of the foursome at just over 5-2 in early wagering. A full-brother to MGSW & GISP Caramel Swirl, the May 19 foal debuted in a 1400-meter newcomers' event over this surface Oct. 20, sweeping into contention off the final corner before streaking away from his rivals to graduate by a very impressive 11 lengths (see below, SC 11). Ryusei Sakai, the regular rider of GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic third Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and who rides reigning champion dirt horse Lemon Pop for Godolphin, has the assignment on Saturday.
Ryan Moore, who is set to partner with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, picks up the mount on Dragon Welds (Frosted), a $72,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $150,000 OBS April breezer who also won his maiden first time out, scoring by nine convincing lengths over 1400 meters at Kyoto Oct. 5 (see below, SC 10).
Former jockey Yuichi Fukunaga trains the filly Malibu Orange (Vekoma), a $325,000 KEESEP acquisition who won her maiden over this course and distance at first asking over a rain-affected strip Oct. 6. The Mar. 22 foal is a half-sister to Coasted (Tizway), the dam of Japan Cup runner Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and MGSP Bond Girl (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).
T O Elvis (Volatile) was a debut third on the grass in September and validated 3-5 favoritism in romping by 9 1/2 lengths in his first start on the dirt at Kyoto Oct. 5.
Japan's two top chances are Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), the six-length winner of a two-turn newcomers' race at Sapporo in July; and Clay King (Jpn), a son of leading first-crop sire Nadal who opened his account at first asking going seven furlongs June 15 ahead of a third to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies also-ran American Bikini (Jpn) (American Pharoah) at Chukyo Sept. 28.
The Japanese Road to the Derby continues with the Dec. 11 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, a race won by Forever Young last year, the Listed Hyacinth Stakes back at Tokyo Feb. 16 and the Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Mar. 22.
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