By Alan Carasso
The Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby remains a wide-open affair, but the fourth and final leg of the series, Saturday's $226,736 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, will be the final piece to the puzzle, with a field of 10 set to face the starter.
The 'most valuable' of the races, with a total of 84 points on a 40-20-12-8-4 scale, technically any of the entrants can emerge with the automatic berth, some control their own destiny while others will need some luck.
Though he has yet to participate in the series, Danox Co. Ltd's Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) is one of those at the mercy of those around him, but nevertheless could be the one they're all gunning for Saturday afternoon. Bred by Blue Heaven Farm, the $450,000 Keeneland September grad made a giant impression on 1800-meter debut last October at Kyoto, streaking home by 10 lengths (video #8) and he has one appearance since, a five-length success in one-win allowance class over 1900 meters at Kyoto on Feb. 15 (see below #8).
Godolphin will be represented later Saturday by undefeated Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun winner Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro) in the G2 UAE Derby, and also have Fukuryu claims with Lucky Kid (Jpn) (Discreet Cat). The homebred bay tossed his name into Kentucky Derby consideration in Tokyo's Listed Hyacinth Stakes on Feb. 22, just holding off the re-opposing Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend) and Itterasshai (Jpn) (Mischievous Alex) (see below #3). Don Erectus, who was also runner-up in the first leg of the series, has since taken out an allowance at Chukyo on Mar. 14.
Fringe players include the stakes-placed Charlie (Jpn) (Chrysoberyl {Jpn}), a 10-length winner over course and distance Mar. 1, and debut winner American Stage (Gun Runner), a short-odds fourth to Danon Bourbon last time.
Entering the Fukuryu, Lucky Kid tops the Japan Road to the Derby standings on 30 points, with Don Erectus–who was not an original Triple Crown nominee–a joint-second alongside Pyromancer on 20 points. Itterashai sits on nine points.
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