Derma Louvre Pointed To Gr.1 Kentucky Derby Via Dubai
Trainer Hirofumi Toda has confirmed that Derma Louvre is pointed towards the Gr.2 UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup card, as a final prep for the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby.
If all goes well, the 3YO son of Pyro will be shipped to the US directly from Dubai.
Owner Hiroyuki Asanuma's colt could be the third Japan-based runner to compete in the Kentucky Derby and the first since Lani finished ninth in 2016.
Churchill Downs can extend an invitation to start in the Run for the Roses to one Japanese 3-year-old, with preference to Triple Crown nominees, that earned the most points in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series.
Though the Japanese-bred Derma Louvre is currently third on the points list with 14, he has the most points among Triple Crown nominees through three of the four races in the series. The points chase ends March 31 at Nakayama Racecourse with the Fukuryu Stakes, which awards 40-16-8-4 points to the top four finishers. At the moment, however, it's unlikely anyone from that race will come down with Derby Fever and head to the United States.
The UAE Derby also could ensure Derma Louvre a ticket to Churchill Downs another way, as it is one of seven races offering 100-40-20-10 points in the main Road to the Kentucky Derby series, giving the winner more than enough points to qualify for one of the 20 starting spots in the Run for the Roses.
A US$105,360 buy at the 2017 Japan Racing Horse Association Sale of Yearlings and Weanlings, Derma Louvre has won three of his six career starts—all on dirt—but is winless in two tries in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series. He finished third most recently in the Feb. 17 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, picking up six points, and received eight points for finishing second in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse Dec. 19.
Bred by Bando Bokujo, Derma Louvre is out of the Commands mare Caribbean Romance.
Credit: Bloodhorse