By Alan Carasso
A trip to Dubai for the G2 UAE Derby and a potential U.S. campaign to include a start in the GI Kentucky Derby or GI Belmont S., looms a question mark for Yoko Maeda's Lani (Tapit), after the grey colt finished a lackluster fifth as the favorite in Sunday's 1600-meter Hyacinth S. at Tokyo Racecourse.
Drawn gate six in a full field of 14, Lani was slow away and dropped out to be last early on, not appearing entirely comfortable in the kickback over a dirt surface officially listed as 'heavy.' Steered into the clear by Yutaka Take nearing the end of the backstretch, Lani commenced an impressive, sweeping seven-wide move that catapulted him onto even terms with the leaders at the head of the lane and it looked for a few strides as if the colt would be able to sustain his momentum. But he soon began to labor while not switching his leads, was overhauled by 6-1 chance Gold Dream (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) at the-meter mark and weakened out to finish fifth, beaten just under three lengths.
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