Alex H.

Horse racing, horse racing, and horse racing. UMICH➡️Chicago, IL➡️ SE Michigan 💊PharmD

[Greg Riessland @BlooyGar]

Keep in mind Lovcen lost the lead last out, but he surged back to steal the Guineas from Realize Sirus. It wasn't a conveyor belt win.

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

@prizequizzer Yes!!! The top three were excellent, truly a derby for the record books!!!

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

LOVCEN WINS THE DERBY!!!!!!!!!!!! What a finish!!!! So glad I spent the time learning how to say Pentire Naif because he ran to his form. Applause to both boys! ＃ロブチェン

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#ラブチェン　Hey, LOVCEN, it’s a DOUBLE CROWN!!!!!

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

@Kontenasan_bf @LongBallToNoOne 😍😍

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

Profiles are complete for selected Japanese Derby horses! Good luck, everyone!!

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 11: #️⃣17 LOVCEN #ロブチェン - The big guy with a lot to prove. He could win decisively or lose in a heartbreak. Currently the favorite at 3.0, he owns the 2nd fastest Netkeiba speed fig of 111 for his record breaking win in the Satsuki Sho. Notably, that track was labeled as speed favoring, thus lowering his speed fig since he led throughout. His speed figures on Netkeiba, Umanity, and JRA-VAN are very close with his competition..telling me that this race is a contentious one. Pedigree wants 2400m/12F full send. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 10: #️⃣15 FORTE ANGELO #フォルテアンジェロ - Owns the fastest 3F time in the Satsuki Sho (33.4). Had a nightmare trip and still finished 5th and figures to move forward. Pedigree is stamina on top and sprint on bottom. Let’s see how he goes tonight! #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 9: #️⃣12 GOING TO SKY #ゴーイントゥスカイ - He could be going to the winners circle. Winner of the Aoba Sho clearly prefers longer distances - given that race was at today’s track and distance. Won is a respectable 2:23.0- that would only be slower than Do Deuce’s track record in 2022. Son of Contrail is ready for a showdown. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 5: #️⃣10 JUSTIN VISTA #ジャスティンビスタ ーHe has Ryusei Sakai aboard, jockey for our boy Forever Young. Juicy shot at 75.2 odds in Japan. This would be Sakai’s first JRA 3yo male classic win (won 2022 Shuka Sho on Stunning Rose).

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 8: #️⃣12 ASK EDINBURGH #アスクエジンバラ - I’m traveling to Edinburgh, Scotland (final destination Glasgow) tomorrow so he’s a hunch play at 20.3 odds. Owns the most number of starts prior to the Derby (8) Liable to step forward as a spring/summer 3yo. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 7: #️⃣13 PENTIRE NAIF #パントルナイーフ - Had a brutal race in the Satsuki Sho, losing places during the final turn. He hadn’t run since winning the Nov ‘25 Tokyo Sports Hai (1800m/9F Turf), so excuses can be made. But he’s at a low price, 9.7, so either the secret is out or he’s over bet. His 32.9 final 3F time in the G2 as a 2yo was one of the fastest last 3Fs of his generation and if he moves forward, look out! #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 6: #️⃣11 REALIZE SIRIUS #リアライズシリウス - Stayed 2nd the entire route of the Satsuki Sho vs Lovcen, this dual G3 winner is dangerous today in the Derby. Speed was heavily favored according to Netkeiba that day but the new record by the winner commands respect to this runner up. Look for him to be near the lead again tonight. Currently 2nd choice at 5.4. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 4: #️⃣6 AUDACIA #アウダーシア - Hot off of a 2 race win streak, his connections were confident enough to pass on the Satsuki Sho after his G2 Spring Stakes win. The Derby has always been their target, so watch out. He does need to progress ~10 points on Netkeiba’s figure scale to be competitive. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 3: #️⃣6 CONGESTUS - Son of JP triple crown winner Contrial is undefeated 3 for 3, giving the same vibes of his sire. He owns the highest Netkeiba speed fig even versus the Satsuki Sho winner/finishers - 113 for his win in the G2 2200m Kyoto Shimbun Hai. Dangerous but new to the G1 test! #東京優駿　＃コンジェスタス

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 2: #️⃣５BASSE TERRE - Finished 11th in the Satsuki Sho but won G2 Deep Impact Kinen over Reichsadler in March…time was decent but Netkeiba speedfig was 87. Sire Kitasan Black carries his stamina hopes. Trainer Takashi Saito believes he got too excited prior to the Satsuki Sho and washed out. Look for him to be calmer today for an impact at a great price. #東京優駿

[Alex H. @hmlaa]

#JapaneseDerby Profile 1: Reichsadler
Had a late start and was one of the widest in the Satsuki Sho (won by Lovecen). Inside draw should help him save ground. Distance may not be a problem given dam’s pedigree (she won up to 9F/1800m) but sire Siskin never won beyond 8F/1600m. Siskin does not have any offspring who’ve won >2200m. #東京優駿

[内田チョビ @cbkdatta]

わあああ！！！！ダービーリボン当たった😭❤️❤️❤️🎀

[𝐊𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐀｜𝐋𝐕.𝐂✦𝐍 @Kontenasan_bf]

https://t.co/rtMmkpbnq5

I think this is the first Classic generation for many people who have followed racing all the way through from the two-year-old season.

There were plenty of highly touted prospects, the kind people were talking about even before their debut. But if you have really watched them all the way here, then you have probably felt just how difficult it is to make it to the Classics at all.

When the horses walk onto the track for the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby, this may sound melodramatic, but every year I find myself close to tears. I always end up thinking: you really made it here. That alone is incredible.

They look more beautiful than usual to me on those days. Racing may be, in one sense, something shaped by human hands and human desires. But at moments like that, I feel there is something in it that goes beyond a merely human way of seeing. When I think of how many living things have disappeared from the earth, I cannot help feeling what extraordinary creatures horses are. The force of life. Its beauty.

And behind every one of these horses, there are countless people. Breeders, people at the raising farms, people at the training centers, owners, truck drivers and transport staff, racecourse staff, and so many more that you could never finish listing them all.

For some of them, this may be the first and last Classic race of their lives. For a small breeder, it may be the work of a lifetime. And all of that is compressed into about two minutes.