Yoko Maeda's Japan-based Lani (Tapit) has been nominated to the 2016 Triple Crown and will use the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 26 as a prep, according to trainer Mikio Matsunaga.
If the colt finishes first or second in that Dubai prep, which offers 100 Derby points to the winner and 40 to the runner-up, he will be entered in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7 at Churchill Downs. He is scheduled to prep for the UAE Derby over 1600m in Tokyo Feb. 21. Last year's impressive UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) finished eighth to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Run for the Roses and was fourth to the Triple Crown winner in the GI Belmont S.
If Lani does not make it into the Derby field, he will instead target Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. May 14 and the Belmont June 11. The gray has won two of his four starts, most recently capturing a stake at Tokyo Nov. 28 (video).
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