By Alan Carasso
A very impressive winner of the Listed Hyacinth Stakes going Tokyo's one-turn mile on Feb. 23, Koichi Nishikawa's Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) was even more eyecatching when taking out Saturday's $228,217 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama by five dominating lengths over the metric nine furlongs.
The 40 points earned for the victory took his Kentucky Derby points total to 70, good for the automatic berth on the first Saturday in May, should connections opt to take up the assignment.
Favored at 3-10 with Joao Moreira taking over from the record-setting Rachel King, the full-brother to dual G1 February Stakes hero Cafe Pharoah bounced well from the outside alley in the field of 11 and it appeared as if the instructions from trainer Noriyuki Hori were to ride him like he was the proverbial best horse in the race. Three deep and in no apparent hurry into the first turn as Isana (Jpn) (Declaration of War) showed the way, Luxor Cafe raced under an easy hold from the 'Magic Man' and came into the race nicely while scarcely being asked passing the 600-meter pole.
Despite covering a stack of ground on the bend, Luxor Cafe raced up to the leaders five deep at the final corner and when popped the question by Moreira, quickened up in spectacular fashion to put the result beyond any doubt. The winner covered his final 600 meters in a race-best :36.3, pulling well clear of Meisho Zuiun (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}) and fellow American-bred Golden Cloud (Cloud Computing).
“He was always in a good rhythm, his response and reaction were good,” said Moreira. “He is a really good horse.”
Luxor Cafe was winning his fourth race in a row and opted for the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby over next weekend's G2 UAE Derby, which has attracted the horses that finished third, fourth and fifth behind him in the Hyacinth–Don in the Mood (Jpn) (Asia Express), Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Dragon (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), respectively.
Luxor Cafe, who races in the colors of Cafe Pharoah's owner Koichi Nishikawa, is one of three full black-type winners for his outstanding dam, a number that also includes champion Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), who has a date with Gun Runner this year. Regal Glory topped the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa, Jr. on Peter Brant's bid of $925,000 and she was the joint-highest priced offering overall at Keeneland January in 2021. Luxor Cafe is the seventh winner from eight starters for Mary's Follies, who made $500,000 from the BBA Ireland at the same auction. Mary's Follies has a 2-year old colt by Into Mischief and is due to Flightline this term.
Saturday's Results:
FUKURYU S. (Allowance), ¥34,200,000 ($228,217), Nakayama, 3-29, 3yo, 1800m, 1:52.1, gd.
1–LUXOR CAFE, 128, c, 3, American Pharoah–Mary's Follies (MGSW, $338,889), by More Than Ready. O-Koichi Nishikawa; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland ULC (KY); T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Joao Moreira; ¥18,000,000. Lifetime Record: SW, 6-4-1-0, $377,323. *Full to Cafe Pharoah, Ch. Dirt Horse, MG1SW-Jpn, G1SP-KSA, $5,447,518; half to Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), 'TDN Rising Star', Ch. Turf Mare, MGISW, $2,619,134; and Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), MGSW, $475,682.
2–Meisho Zuiun (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Hokko Tarumae (Jpn)–Aqua Blue Heart (Jpn), by Empire Maker. O-Yoshio Matsumoro; B-Kosho Bokujo; T-Masuru Honda; J-Yutaka Yoshida; ¥7,200,000.
3–Golden Cloud, 126, c, 3, Cloud Computing–Seoul Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($20,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $17,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Silk Racing Co Ltd; B-Todd Sheehan & Burton Johnson (KY); T-Shinya Kobayashi; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥4,500,000.
Margins: 5, NK, 2HF. Odds: 0.30, 12.60, 23.60.
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