Kosei Miura

Japan's top two older dirt horses, Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), were on trial for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last Wednesday, finishing second and fifth, respectively, in the Listed Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Race Track. The country's most-accomplished 3-year-old is Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who preps for a likely appearance at Del Mar in just over four weeks' time in Wednesday's final leg of the Japanese dirt Triple Crown, the $828,597 Listed Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi Racecourse. A...

5th-Fukushima, ¥13,720,000 ($84,982), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:49.9, gd/fm. DEL AVAR (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Amour Briller {MSW-Jpn, $2,317,880}, by Smart Strike) came from a seemingly unlikely position at a late juncture to graduate in highly impressive fashion at first asking. Away a half-step slowly from gate four, the homebred colt lingered in the latter third of the 16-strong field racing around the first turn and was shuffled back to about third-last after overracing as they reached the backstretch. Still only 11th at the third corner, Del Avar caught the eye with...