Breeders’ Cup Classic candidates have showdown in Japan

Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake, two highly regarded candidates to return to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, have a showdown scheduled Wednesday at 7:05 a.m. EDT in Japan in what figures to be their final prep before traveling to Del Mar.

The US$279,130 Hai Stakes will cover about 1 1/8 miles in Chiba on the dirt track at Funabashi, a course on Japan’s second-level racing circuit. There are 13 horses entered for the special-weight race. Ushba Tesoro is the 6-5 program favorite. Derma Sotogake is the 9-5 second choice.

Ushba Tesoro, a 7-year-old Orfèvre entire owned by Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings and trained by Noboru Takagi, races for the first time since he finished second trying to defend his 2023 victory in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup. On the same trip he finished second in the Saudi Cup (G1). Last year at Santa Anita, Ushba Tesoro finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Regular rider Yuga Kawada will be aboard Wednesday and break from post 4 with a top-weight assignment of 128 pounds.

Derma Sotogake, a 4-year-old Mind Your Biscuits colt who came in second by a length to White Abarrio in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic, has not won since the UAE Derby (G2) 18 months ago. Owned by Hiroyuki Asanuma and trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, he finished sixth in last year’s Kentucky Derby, second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, fifth in the Saudi Cup and sixth in the Dubai World Cup.

Christophe Lemaire will partner Derma Sotogake, who was assigned 123 pounds and post 7.

The Hai Stakes, which covers two turns out of a chute around the seven-furlong track, is the 11th of 12 races on the Funabashi card. The first post is Wednesday at 1:40 a.m. EDT.