Japan: 16 race for BC Classic invitation via February Stakes

Top miler Wilson Tesoro leads the field of 16 entered for this weekend’s Grade 1, US$1.8 million February Stakes on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse with the winner receiving the first Challenge Series win-and-you’re-in berth into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

The 41st February Stakes, run at one mile, is scheduled to be run Sunday at 1:40 a.m. EST, which is Saturday at 10:40 p.m. PST, and will be televised live on FanDuel TV.

A 5-year-old owned by Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings and trained by Hitoshi Kotegawa, Wilson Tesoro has won 7 of 14 starts. A son of Kitasan Black out of the Uncle Mo mare Chesutoke Rose, he comes into the race following a gallant second-place finish to 2023 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Ushba Tesoro in the Dec. 29 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi. Trying to take the 1 1/4-mile race in gate-to-wire fashion, Wilson Tesoro held the lead before being overtaken by Ushba Tesoro just yards from the finish.

“He drew widest in his last race and was the last to load, but he got off to a good start, and with no other horse wanting to lead, he went to the front,” Kotegawa told the Japan Racing Association. “He ran at his own pace but was eventually beaten by one of the world’s top horses, so it was a good race for him when you consider this, and he beat home some other good horses. Everything’s gone smoothly with him since he returned to the stable after a break at the farm.”

Before the Tokyo Daishoten, Wilson Tesoro finished second to last year’s February Stakes winner Lemon Pop in the Dec. 3 Champions Cup (G1) going 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo.

Dura Erede, a 4-year-old owned by Three H. Racing, seems to have found a home on dirt in his last two starts. Trained by Manubu Ikezo, the son of Duramente finished second in last year’s UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan but then lost three consecutive turf stakes back in Japan. He rebounded in December, finishing third, a neck behind Wilson Tesoro in the Champions Cup and in the Tokyo Daishoten.

“He stumbled slightly at the start last time, and he didn’t pick up so well (in the second turn),” Ikezoe said. “He was perhaps still a little tired after his run in the Champions Cup. Since being back at the stable, we’ve just confirmed that his condition is good. It will be his first time over a mile, so we’ll have to see what he can do.”

Yoichi Aoyama’s homebred 4-year-old Champagne Color, trained by Tsuyoshi Tanaka, will be making his dirt-track debut after six turf starts that produced three wins. His career highlight came in May when he came from far back to win the Mile Cup (G1) at Tokyo going one mile. But the son of Duramente could not find the same form in the Yasuda Kinen in June at Tokyo, finishing 14th.

King’s Sword, a 5-year-old owned by Hidaka Breeders Union, has won 7 of 14 races, all on dirt for trainer Ryo Terashima. A son of 2006 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sinister Minister, King’s Sword reeled off three straight wins last year at Hanshin, Kokura and Oi before finishing fifth in the Tokyo Daishoten as the 4-1 second choice.

“I would have liked him to have done a bit better last time, but he didn’t run on when it counted at the end of the race,” Terashima said. “This time he’ll be racing on a left-handed track, which he hasn’t done in a while, but the one turn in the race and the shorter distance should be in his favor.”

Red le Zele closed strongly from 15th to finish second behind Lemon Pop in last year’s race for trainer Takayuki Yasuda. A nine-time winner owned Tokyo Horse Racing, 8-year-old Red le Zele will be starting in his fourth consecutive February Stakes. In his two subsequent starts in 2023, he finished sixth in the six-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan and was third at Tokyo in the Nov. 11 Musashino Stakes (G3) at seven furlongs.

Also of interest is 6-year-old Igniter, owned by Yoshiki Noda and trained by Masashi Atarashi. Racing primarily on the second-level, National Association of Racing circuit, Igniter has won six races in 17 starts. A son of 2010 February Stakes winner Espoir City, Igniter closed 2023 by taking the six-furlong Sprint Stakes on Nov. 3 at Oi.