3-for-3 filly Delicada wins Japan's final Kentucky Derby prep

Undefeated filly Delicada earned the opportunity Saturday to try the Kentucky Derby, winning the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama in the final 2022 points prep in Japan.

By Pyro out of a Kurofune mare Bronx Silver, Delicada is not currently nominated for the Triple Crown. In order to be eligible, she would need to be supplemented for $6,000 at Monday's late deadline.

Now 3-for-3, Delicada went off as the 7-1 third choice in the Fukuryu. She won the race by a neck with Notturno and Peisha Es finishing second and third, respectively.

The winner finished the 1,800-meter race (about 1 1/8 miles) around two clockwise turns on dirt in 1:52.1. The time did not include a run-up. She was clocked at 37.9 seconds for the last three furlongs.

Both Delicada and Crown Pride, who won Saturday's UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan, are owned by Teruya Yoshida. Crown Pride is qualified for the Kentucky Derby and already has been nominated for the Triple Crown series.

The race paid points on a 40-16-8-4 basis to the top four finishers. Those points were applied to Japan's separate Derby trail, and Delicada finished at the top of it. A maximum of one invitation may be accepted via Japan.