Although it is based on a race that began in England, the Kentucky Derby is very much a product of the United States of America.
The entire atmosphere is infused with the culture and history of the American South. The bourbon, bluegrass, and beautiful Thoroughbreds are, for the most part, native to Kentucky.
However, in recent years, those who organize the Derby have made a special effort to invite the international competition. There are two international race series- the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and the European Road to the Kentucky Derby- that automatically afford the top qualifier a berth in the Kentucky Derby gate. As well, the rich and prestigious Grade II UAE Derby gives the winner 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
This year, their efforts have paid off. Two, possibly three, Japanese-based colts are Kentucky Derby bound. Could the next horse to don the Derby roses hail from the Land of the Rising Sun? Let’s take a look.
Previous International Kentucky Derby Winners
Although the vast majority of competitors never leave the United States, there have been a handful of foreign-bred victors. Omar Khayyam (1917) and Tomy Lee (1959) were both bred in Great Britain, while Northern Dancer (1964) and Sunny’s Halo (1983) were bred in Canada. Canonero II (1971), Bold Forbes (1976), and Mine That Bird (2009), while Kentucky-bred, all raced outside of the United States (in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Canada, respectively) prior to their Derby wins.
Derma Sotogake
Derma Sotogake stamped himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender with a dominant win in the UAE Derby. Since switching from grass to dirt, he rose to the top of the Japanese three-year-old scene. He then took his act abroad, placing third in the Grade III Saudi Derby before traveling to Dubai. So, according to the horse racing betting app by TwinSpires, Derma Sotogake is the international contender with more chances of winning the Derby this year.
Although Derma Sotogake was bred and raised in Japan, his sire, Mind Your Biscuits, is a New York bred who raced primarily in the United States. Known mostly for his sprint performances, Mind Your Biscuits nonetheless won the nine-furlong Grade III Lukas Classic Stakes, and Derma Sotogake’s dam, the Japanese mare Amour Poesie, won at distances greater than ten furlongs. If the 1 3/16 mile UAE Derby is any indication, Derma Sotogake should have no problem with the Kentucky Derby distance.
Continuar
Continuar is perhaps the biggest wild card entry in this year’s Kentucky Derby. He is technically the winner of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitation, but only because Derma Sotogake, who placed first in the series, had already qualified via the UAE Derby, and second-place finisher Perriere declined the invitation. However, Continuar has shown ability when winning the Cattleya Sho Stakes.
Like Derma Sotogake, Continuar is sired by an American racehorse known for his sprinting prowess, that being 2016 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Drefong. His dam, Pan de Ring, is by Japanese stallion King Kamehameha. Although he was third in the UAE Derby, he never seriously threatened Derma Sotogake, and stamina appears to be a concern.
Mandarin Hero
Unlike Derma Sotogake and Continuar, Mandarin Hero’s connections opted to prepare him for the Kentucky Derby by competing in an American prep race. Although his second-place finish in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby means that he likely will not make the cut for the Kentucky Derby, his gritty performance impressed viewers and flattered the performances of his Japanese counterparts, both of whom had been considered to be Mandarin Hero’s superior on the track.
Like the two aforementioned colts, Mandarin Hero’s sire is American, and his dam is Japanese. He is by 2012 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Male Shanghai Bobby. His dam, Namura Nadeshiko, is by Fuji Kiseke, a son of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence.
Author: Lindsay Griffin
