Up to 3 Japan-based horses could target Kentucky Derby

T O Password, at 14-1 the fourth-longest shot in the field of 11, took the early lead and held narrowly over Arare Tabashiru to win the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama on Saturday. It was the final race on the Japan road to the Kentucky Derby.

His win in the Fukuryu earned T O Password 40 Japan road to the Kentucky Derby points, enough to put him on top of the leaderboard. Ramjet ends the series with 30 points after his victory in the Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo on Feb. 18. Ramjet did not race in the Fukuryu. Third in the standings with 20 points apiece are Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun winner Forever Young, who is expected to return in the UAE Derby (G2), and Arare Tabashiru, second in the Fukuryu.

T O Password, Ramjet, Forever Young and Arare Tabashiru were all early nominees to the Triple Crown.

According to Kate Hunter of Marugai Racing, the winner's connections have not decided yet whether they will take the bid. "The trainer (Daisuke Takayanagi) said that he is going to consider the invitation," Hunter said. "He wants to take the horse (T O Password) back to Ritto (Training Center), evaluate how he pulled up and discuss with the owner, but the Kentucky Derby is on the table.

"Ramjet also would really like to go, so should T O Password for whatever reason be unable to accept the invitation, odds are Ramjet would be there. They would very much like to go (since) they are connections of Lani."

Up to two more horses based in Japan may proceed to the Kentucky Derby if they run well at Meydan next Saturday. "Forever Young, Satono Phoenix and Ballon d'Or and George Tesoro are in the UAE Derby. Should two Japanese finish in the top two, there is a chance that both will go to the Kentucky Derby as well," Hunter said. The UAE Derby is a 100-50-25-15-10 point race, and those points count on the same scale as those from prep races in the United States.

The Fukuryu, only T O Password's second start, was a successful stakes debut.

Under jockey Katsuma Sameshima, T O Password took the early lead. His closest pursuer through the early stages was Bushin, a full brother to 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. Past three furlongs out, Arare Tabashiru (14-1) began to rally through the field from near the rear, while Amber Doll (146-1) began to rally up the inside from the back. Meanwhile, the stalking flight was encroaching on T O Password, though the pacesetter reasserted into the lane.

Inside the final furlong, both Arare Tabashiru and Amber Doll quickly gained ground on the pacesetter, with Arare Tabashiru doing the better of the two. The wire came in time for T O Password, who held by a head. Arare Tabashiru finished second, with Amber Doll crossing the wire another three-quarters of a length back. La Oracion, the 2-1 favorite, was another 3/4 length back in fourth.

T O Password stopped the timer in 1:54.1 for about 1 1/8 miles over a dirt course rated standard.

Trained by Taisuke Takayanagi, T O Password is a 3-year-old colt by Copano Rickey out of the mare T O Rachel. The Fukuryu was only T O Password's second career start. On debut Jan. 6 at Kyoto, he won a newcomers race over the same distance as the Fukuryu.