By Alan Carasso
Tomoya Ozasa's T O Elvis (Volatile), a five-time winner and never worse than third in his eight career appearances at home, will make his next start in the $1-million GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2, trainer Daisuke Takayanagi told the Japanese website Sanspo.com on Wednesday.
Bred in Kentucky by Jeff and Melissa Prunzik, the 4-year-old son of the eight-time stakes winner Stopshoppingdebbie (Curlin) is currently on a four-race winning streak at home, most recently streaking clear to take out the G3 Capella Stakes (1200 meters) by five lengths in his group-level debut Dec. 14.
That effort earned the dark bay colt an automatic berth in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Feb. 14, but connections elected to give their charge additional time and instead targeted the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Mar. 28. That mission was aborted on the eve of his departure owing to the ongoing hostilities in the region. He was re-routed for the $322,000 Listed Tokyo Sprint, a 1200-meter contest at Ohi Racecourse on Apr. 15, but will instead join the Derby-bound Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) on a trans-Pacific flight in two weeks' time.
“It will be about six months since the last race, which is a bit of a concern, but the horse is in good spirits,” trainer Daisuke Takayanagi told Sanspo. “He won [the Capella] so convincingly that I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of race he'll show us over there.”
Takayanagi also has a runner for the Derby in the form of Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}), who scooped the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 28. It will be a second starter in the Run for the Roses for the 48-year-old conditioner, who sent out T O Password (Jpn) (Copano Rickey {Jpn}) to a respectable fifth-place finish behind Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in 2024.
The stable was also represented in that year's GII Alysheba Stakes by T O Saint Denis (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who made the majority of the running beneath Forever Young rider Ryusei Sakai before rounding out the exacta at 27-1 behind First Mission (Street Sense).
Ozasa's best horse to date was T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), six-length winner of the G1 Champions Cup in 2021.
WATCH: T O Elvis smashes the competition in the Capella S.
NetKeiba is reporting that Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a latest fourth in defense of his title in the G1 Neom Turf Cup (2100m) on the Saudi Cup undercard Feb. 14, will bypass the G1 FWD QE II Cup on Apr. 26 in favor of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic on Derby Day. In so doing, he avoids a clash with the world's richest racehorse Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Japanese standouts Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})–runner-up to Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G1 Japan Cup–and G1 Arima Kinen hero Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Ire}). The QE II invitees also include this year's Neom Turf Cup victor Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal) and Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), victorious in the 2025 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.
“The distance is short at 1800 meters [nine furlongs], but it is left-turning and the competition will be easier,” said Yoshito Yahagi, who trains the 2022 Arqana August topper for Forever Young's owner Susumu Fujita.
Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) earned a spot in the Turf Classic with his win in the Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup in March, but connections have accepted an invitation to the G1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
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