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Dozen Juveniles Line Up For Kentucky Derby Points Race in Japan

A field of 12 Japanese-bred 2-year-old colts descends on Kawasaki Racecourse Wednesday evening for the $490,090 Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, a 1600-meter contest that serves as the second of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. A total of 42 Derby points are on the line, to be awarded to the first five finishers on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2.

Aigle Noir (Jpn), a son of Eclipse Award winner Bricks and Mortar, looks for his fourth win from five starts overall and will try to remain undefeated on the dirt in the process. Fourth on turf debut at Hanshin in June, the dark bay graduated over 1700 meters at Kokura Sept. 2 and narrowly prevailed in a Tokyo allowance Oct. 14, defeating Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes). Aigle Noir stepped up to stakes company last time, besting the re-opposing Satono Phoenix (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) in the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix Nov. 22 (see below, SC 7), while Amante Bianco further flattered the form with a handy success in the Cattleya S., the first of the Japanese Kentucky Derby points races at Tokyo three days later.

Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) was purchased for ¥98 million ($720,603) as a yearling at the JRHA Select Sale and is flawless in his two starts to date. A son of GII Santa Ynez S. victress Forever Darling (Congrats) and from the family of Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Kris S.) , the Yoshito Yahagi trainee opened his account with a stylish four-length victory in an 1800-meter newcomers event at Kyoto Oct. 14 and was the facile winner of the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at Mombetsu when last seen Nov. 4 (see below, SC 3). Ryusei Sakai rides the narrow second ante-post favorite.

Godolphin homebred Nasty Weather (Jpn) (Pyro) is also two from three on the dirt, while Seltsam (Jpn) (Henny Hughes)–a distant third to Aigle Noir and Satono Phoenix last time–is the lone group winner in the field, having upset the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. on the turf back in July.

None of the participants from the Cattleya S. presses on to this test, meaning that the winner takes over at the top of the standings. The series continues with the Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Feb. 18 and the Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama Mar. 23.

The 2022 renewal was won by subsequent G2 UAE Derby hero and recent GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits).

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Churchill, Ascot & Epsom Announce International Stakes Incentive Partnerships

Churchill Downs on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program where horses competing during GI Kentucky Derby week could receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting.

“This is a really special partnership that will give owners and trainers a great opportunity to run in some of our marquee races during Kentucky Derby week and, in exchange, they could receive entries into some of Europe's most prestigious turf races,” Gary Palmisano Jr., the executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., said via press release.

“This partnership will give owners and trainers based in Europe a good initiative to bring some of their top horses over to experience Kentucky Derby week. Not only is this a great opportunity for connections based in Europe but this will give our owners and trainers here in North America a shot to compete on the international stage,” Palmisano said.

Two races on Kentucky Derby Day will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run at Royal Ascot in mid-June: The winner of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic S. will receive a berth to either the G1 Queen Anne S. or the G1 Prince of Wales's S. Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day program, the winner of the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. will receive an entry to the G1 King Charles S.

“We are very excited to be working with Churchill Downs and the UK Jockey Club on this exciting new initiative,” said Nick Smith, the director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse. “We were very pleased to play our part hosting the Churchill team at Royal Ascot last year, with the Kentucky Derby trophy on display as they built up to this important 150^th running of the world's greatest dirt race. We have a rich modern history of American runners at Royal Ascot and their success always adds hugely to the meeting. With NBC covering the event all week, the Saturday on the main network channel, hopefully this new link up of races will add a new dimension to their and ITV's coverage.”

Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf S. and GII Edgewood S. can receive their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Betfred Derby, while the winner of the Edgewood will receive the same benefits for the Betfred Oaks.

“We're delighted to develop these links with races at the Kentucky Derby Meeting in its 150^th year,” said Matt Woolston, the assistant racing and international racing director at The Jockey Club. “A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over…These historic races already have an international reputation, and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”

In return for the above incentives for horses on Kentucky Derby weekend, a runner from both the Prince of Wales's S. and Queen Anne S. will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the GI Arlington Million S. in mid-August at Colonial Downs.

In addition, a runner from the G1Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival will also receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the GI Beverly D. S. on the same day as the Arlington Million.

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OBS Winter Mixed Sale Catalogue Online

The catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale is now online at www.obssales.com. The two-day sale is set for Jan. 23 and 24.

There are 248 yearlings cataloged by a diverse group of proven and promising sires, as well as mares in foal to an outstanding roster of up-and-coming sires. Supplemental entries are being accepted until Jan. 12. For supplement information and entries, visit JanuaryEntryForms.

The sale's first session begins at Jan. 23 at noon with hips numbers one through 122, plus supplements, catalogued in the Consignor Preferred Session. The Horses of Racing Age Session, catalogued as hips 201 through 265, plus supplements, begins immediately following the conclusion of the Preferred Session.

The Open Session, with hips 401 through 643, plus supplements, will begin Jan. 24, also at noon.

The Under Tack Show for the Horses of Racing Age Section is set for Jan. 22 at 9 a.m.

OBS will again offer online bidding during the Winter Mixed Sale. For complete information on registration and online bidding, visit obs-online-bidding.

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Lawyers Available for HISA Covered Person Pro Bono Program

A trio of law firms will now be available to provide pro-bono legal representation to eligible recipients under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s newly established program. The program, open to covered persons who fall below a certain income threshold and are alleged to have violated HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, will match recipients with volunteer attorneys who have agreed to provide legal services without any expectation of compensation.

The participating lawyers include Howard Jacobs, Jackson Kelly's Equine Group, and Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP.

“We are pleased to participate in HISA's Covered Person Pro Bono Program, so that those who truly cannot afford a lawyer can have access to the same depth of experience and zealous representation that we provide to all of our non pro bono clients,” said Howard Jacobs, international sports law attorney specializing in disciplinary cases involving anti-doping and other disputes. “As a result of HISA's Covered Person Pro Bono Program, we hope that no covered person will feel that they simply cannot afford to defend themselves against a potentially life-changing charge.”

Jay Ingle, Chair of Jackson Kelly's Equine Group, said, “Jackson Kelly is always glad to help support the industries we serve. We quickly said yes when asked to participate in this program and donate our legal services and expertise, and hope that our contributions will help the sport and the horsemen and women in it.”

Craig Robertson, Partner-In-Charge, Lexington Office of Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP, said, “The Wyatt firm is honored to be part of the HISA Covered Person Pro Bono Program to support those in need of legal assistance and to help promote the health and well-being of Thoroughbred racing and the equine industry as a whole.”

If the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has alleged that a covered person committed an ADMC Rule Violation, and the covered person has an annual household adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and no significant liquid assets, the covered person will be eligible for free legal services from a volunteer attorney and limited reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the volunteer attorney.

“I am incredibly proud to be launching this free legal services initiative, the first of its kind in American sport,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Providing all Covered Persons with the tools to properly defend themselves in these cases is critical to ensuring integrity in our ADMC program adjudication procedures. We don't want the cost of legal services to ever be a barrier to pursuing a rigorous defense. I'm grateful to the reputable law firms and experienced attorneys who have already agreed to participate, and I look forward to expanding their ranks.”

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