Kentucky Derby 2023: Derma Sotogake breezes at Churchill

Derma Sotogake, winner of the Grade 2 UAE Derby, recorded his first published workout at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning with a half-mile move in 49.60 seconds in preparation for Kentucky Derby 2023 on Saturday, May 6.

With exercise rider Masatoshi Segawa in the saddle, Derma Sotogake went through his routine 25-minute warm up in the one-mile chute before to beginning his work. The son of Mind Your Biscuits, owned by Hiroyuki Asanuma, exited the chute and began galloping around the six-furlong pole. Derma Sotogake started to pick up his momentum easily around the three-furlong pole and worked through fractions of 13 and 37.20 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“I am really happy with how he moved today,” Segawa said. “He felt great. We didn’t want to go too fast today so I had to keep a strong hold on him throughout, and even then he performed brilliantly. Now I can start to get really excited about Derby day.”

Derma Sotogake is stabled in Quarantine Barn 1 next to fellow Japan-bred Kentucky Derby contender Continuar. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Lion Race Horse Co., Continuar had his most serious training to date Tuesday at Churchill Downs when he picked up his gallop around the seven-eighths pole to about the three-eighths pole. The training was slower than a published workout but noticeably faster than a routine gallop.

Derma Sotogake and Continuar have been stabled at Churchill Downs for two weeks, and several of their connections plan to travel to the U.S. during Kentucky Derby week.