Declaration of War Colt Too Strong in Cattleya Sho

Sent off the 3-2 favorite on the strength of a 2 1/2-length defeat of the re-opposing Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) in a 1600-meter newcomers' event Oct. 26, American-sired Dieu du Vin (Jpn) (Declaration of War) came with a solid final-furlong rally beneath an in-form Frankie Dettori and held off a late challenge from 49-1 outsider Shonan Mario (Jpn) (Toby's Corner) to win Saturday's $175,000 Cattleya Sho allowance over a very sloppy Tokyo main track. Daimei Corrida (Jpn) (Eskendereya) attended the pace and stayed on for third.

Perhaps a half-step slow from gate three, Dieu du Vin made a steady advance into a midfield position and caught the eye nearing the turn, splitting horses with a three-wide move that took him into striking position. Pulled off the heels of Danon Pharaoh at the 600-meter mark, Dieu du Vin had clear sailing four off the inside in upper stretch, descended on the pacesetting duo of Aurora Tesoro (Malibu Moon) and Daimei Corrida at the furlong grounds and kicked home best of all. Shonan Mario raced in traffic into the lane and was taken to the outside of the eventual winner in the final eighth of a mile, but his late bid fell just short. Aurora Tesoro held for fourth ahead of Danon Pharaoh in fifth. The final time was a sharp 1:36.2.

Dieu du Vin was bred by Shimokobe Farm, who acquired the colt's dam Jealous Cat (Tapit) for $210,000 at Keeneland November in 2015 and bred her to Declaration of War prior to the mare being exported. Jealous Cat is a full-sister to former 'TDN Rising Star' Tapicat, winner of the 2013 GIII Florida Oaks and placed in the GII Lake George S. and GII Buena Vista S. The colt's third dam Trail Robbery (Alydar), a full-sister to the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Classic upsetter Cat Thief (Storm Cat), is herself responsible for the good Grade I-winning sprinter Pohave (Holy Bull). Jealous Cat produced a filly by 2015 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) this past Feb. 11 and was covered this season by Horse of the Year Maurice (Jpn).

The Cattleya Sho offered Kentucky Derby points on a 10-4-1-2 scale. The Japan Road to the Derby continues with the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (1600m, 20 points to the winner) at Kawasaki Dec. 18, the Listed Hyacinth S. (1600m, 30 points) back at Tokyo Feb. 16 and the Fukuryu S. (1800m, 40 points) at Nakayama Mar. 29.

WATCH: Dieu du Vin remains unbeaten in the Cattleya Sho

Saturday's Results:
CATTLEYA SHO (Alw), ¥19,490,000 ($179,386), Tokyo, 11-23, 3yo, 1600m, 1:36.2, sy.
1–DIEU DU VIN (JPN), 121, c, 2, Declaration of War–Jealous
Cat, by Tapit. O-Three H Racing Co Ltd; B-Shimokobe Farm;
T-Yukihiro Kato; J-Frankie Dettori; ¥10,343,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $159,613.
2–Shonan Mario (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Toby's Corner–Aqua Blue
Heart (Jpn), by Empire Maker. (¥4,536,000 Ylg '18 HOKAUT).
O-Shonan Co Ltd. ¥4,098,000.
3–Daimei Corrida (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Eskendereya–Miracle Flag
(Jpn), by Spicule (Jpn). (¥16,200,000 Ylg '18 HOKSUM;
¥30,240,000 2yo '19 JRA2YO). O-Noboru Miyamoto.
¥2,549,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.50, 49.00, 27.40.
Also Ran: Aurora Tesoro, Danon Pharaoh (Jpn), Lovely Angel (Jpn), Kyoei Go (Jpn), Taiki Lux (Jpn), Cosmo Imperium (Jpn), Aster Marimba (Jpn), Tosen Timing (Jpn), Serein, American Baby (Jpn), Halbmond (Jpn), Clepat, Matthias (Jpn).