God Selection Too Strong In Final Derby Points Race

Prominent every step of the 1800-meter journey despite a somewhat awkward draw, God Selection (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) took command in the straight and drew clear to win Saturday's Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama, earning 40 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby in the process.

Ridden for speed from the 13 hole in a field of 14, God Selection was down into the two path and prompted the pace from second as Lord Strom (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}) galloped them along. Ridden cold on the turn and into the final quarter-mile, God Selection put a couple of lengths on his rivals when asked to sprint in upper stretch and proved easily best, as market leaders Meisho Murakaumo (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) and favored Gold Higher (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) ran on for minor prizes.

God Selection, a maternal grandson of 2007 champion Japanese older mare Koiuta (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), was winning for the third time in five career starts and was exiting an eight-length allowance score at Chukyo Feb. 7.

The victory earns the connections of God Selection a guaranteed berth in the May 1 Kentucky Derby, but he was not an original nominee to the Triple Crown and would need to be supplemented. Should they decline the invitation, the offer would be extended, in order, to the connections of the three next-highest points-getters. Currently second on 30 points is La Perouse (Jpn) (Pelusa {Jpn}), who was among the early entries for the Triple Crown.

Saturday's Results:
FUKURYU S. (Allowance), ¥34,620,000 ($315,808), Nakayama, 3-27, 3yo, 1800m, 1:52.1, ft.
1–GOD SELECTION (JPN), 123, c, 3, Novellist (Ire)–Ultimate Love (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S. O-Hiroyuki Kawakatsu; B-Shadai Farm; T-Teiichi Konno; J-Yuji Nakai; ¥18,294,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, ¥33,236,000.
2–Meisho Murakumo (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Neo Universe (Jpn)–North Pastoral (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn). (¥3,564,000 Ylg '19 HOKSUM). ¥7,284,000.
3–Gold Higher (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Henny Hughes–Gold Glory (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB). ¥4,542,000.
Margins: 3, NK, 2HF. Odds: 14.20, 3.60, 3.20.

WATCH: God Selection overcomes gate 13 in the Fukuryu S.

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Derby Points On the Line In Hyacinth

Sunday's live program at Tokyo Racecourse features the return of Group 1 action in the one-mile February S., but about 90 minutes earlier, the nation's 3-year-old set will compete for a Kentucky Derby points that are up for grabs in the $347,257 Listed Hyacinth S. over the same distance.

Nobutaka Tada's La Perouse (Jpn) (Pelusa {Jpn}) is the only member of the 11-strong field that was given an entry into the Triple Crown series at its first closing stage in late January. The homebred was well beaten trying the turf on his career debut last June, but won two of his first three starts on dirt against easier competition at Mombetsu on the National Association of Racing circuit. He proved that he could handle JRA company in his last start, a 2 1/2-length victory in a nine-furlong allowance at Nakayama Dec. 13. Leading rider Christophe Lemaire sees fit to take the call.

The Frenchman partnered with Takeru Pegasus (Jpn) (Dunkirk) in his three juvenile appearances, including a nine-length graduation over Sunday's course and trip Nov. 7 ahead of a runner-up effort to Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) in the first leg of the Japan Road to the Derby, the Nov. 28 Cattleya Sho (allowance). Yuga Kawada takes over from Lemaire.

Bakushin (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) was a 10-length maiden winner going seven furlongs over this strip Oct. 17 and added a Nov. 14 allowance before finishing fifth to Triple Crown nominee Alain Barows (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in the second leg of the series, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Dec. 16.

Ladybug (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}), one of three fillies in the Hyacinth, belied debut odds of 50-1 to score by five at Hanshin Nov. 14 and was a latest second in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix at NAR track Sonoda Dec. 2.

The Hyacinth offers Derby points on a 30-12-6-3 scale.

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