Hagiwara Hopes to Make History

ELMONT, New York–Only one foreign horse has ever managed to win the GI Belmont S. and that was Ireland's Go and Go (Ire), who took the 1990 renewal of the Test of a Champion. Japanese trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara hopes to change that Saturday when he saddles G2 UAE Derby runner-up Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in the final leg of America's Triple Crown.

“He recovered from the long flight well, better than Dubai,” Hagiwara said through the help of a translator during a mini press conference held outside Barn 5, Belmont's quarantine barn, where Epicharis has been housed since he arrived Thursday. “He is doing very well. I think he showed he is a good horse [in the UAE Derby]. I am very proud of him.”

Opening his account with a trio of dominant victories as a juvenile last term, one of which was a stake, Epicharis earned automatic berth to the GI Kentucky Derby May 6 after winning his homeland's Hyacinth S. Feb. 19, which is part of the new Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. However, his connections felt he needed more time following a close second to Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the UAE Derby Mar. 25 and opted to wait for this spot instead.

“It was difficult to come to the Derby because we didn't have much time from the UAE Derby to the Kentucky Derby so we decided to try the Belmont S.,” Hagiwara explained. “He was a little bit tired after the UAE Derby, so we needed to have some time. Epicharis won the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby so we were given the right to run, but we couldn't and we were sorry about that.”

The conditioner thinks the race's 1 1/2-mile distance will suit his charge perfectly and was not at all concerned about Belmont's deep, sandy surface.

“I think the distance is very good for him,” remarked Hagiwara. “Originally I thought over 2000 meters is good for him, so this is a good opportunity.”

He continued, “I feel [the surface] is a little bit firmer than Japanese dirt. That's the difference between a Japanese dirt course and a U.S. dirt course. The Japanese dirt course is like sand.”

Epicharis took to Belmont's training track at 6:30a.m. on a cloudy and cold Tuesday morning for his final breeze, covering five furlongs in 1:06.06 under assistant trainer Masa Aki.

“He looked very good,” Hagiwara said when asked his thoughts on the work. “His run on the backstretch, especially, was very good.”

Though Epicharis has displayed some speed in his prior races, Hagiwara plans for him to be coming from a bit off the pace Saturday.

“I am talking with the jockey about the position, but I think he would likely come from off the pace,” the Japanese horsemen offered. “I think it is better to get position behind some horses.”

This is Hagiwara's first visit to New York and though he has spent most of his time at the racetrack, he did manage to squeeze in a visit to New York's famous Peter Luger Steak House, an aside which drew laughs and nods of approval from the assembled media.

“This is my first experience here,” Hagiwara remarked. “It is a good atmosphere and the climate is better than Japan. It is very good here.”

Epicharis is scheduled to head back to Japan after the Belmont, but if all goes well Saturday, a return to the U.S. could be in the cards.

“The plan is to ship back to Japan after the race, but if the result was very good I would consider running in the Breeders' Cup or other great races in America,” offered Hagiwara.

Epicharis is not the first Japanese horse to run in the Belmont. Just last year, the country was represented by the extremely popular Lani (Tapit) in all three of the Triple Crown races. Lani's best finish was a strong third to Creator (Tapit) in last year's Belmont, but he became one of the best known horses on the 2016 Triple Crown trail due to his antics and unusual training style.

As a newcomer to the U.S., Epicharis, who seems to be more level-headed than Lani, has not developed quite the same following in America just yet, but the Japanese people are already showing their support for their representative.

“I am hoping for a good result for the fans,” Hagiwara said. “I am getting a lot of stuff from fans and fellow horsemen and other connections. I'm sure a lot of fans will watch in Japan and cheer for him.”

Epicharis' owner, the Japanese syndicate U. Carrot Farm, made history in 2005 when Cesario (Jpn) won the GI American Oaks, making her the first Japanese runner to win a Grade I win in the United States. That horse was not trained by Hagiwara, but he has saddled a Group 1 victor in his homeland, winning the 2009 G1 Japanese Derby with Logi Universe (Jpn).

That victory remains as the conditioner's only top-level success and, on what coincidentally was the two-year anniversary of American Pharoah's Triple Crown victory, Hagiwara took a moment to reflect on what a Belmont win would mean to him.

“As a Japanese horsemen, this is the most exciting thing that has ever happened,” the trainer said. “It is an honor to have a horse here to run in the Belmont. I am very excited.”