By Bloodhorse.com
KAWASAKI, Japan (Dec. 17, 2018) — When Churchill Downs officials expanded the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” from three races to four for the current prep season, they surely didn’t envision it turning into a “Japan Road to the Kentucky Oaks.”
That’s what might, in effect, be happening as Make Happy, a California-bred Square Eddie filly, seeks to double down on her victory in the series’ first race when she faces 13 male rivals Dec. 19 in the listed Zen-Nipon Nisai Yushun Stakes at Kawasaki Racecourse near Haneda Airport.
Bred by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning owner Reddam Racing, Make Happy is a $650,000 purchase for Shadai Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-year-olds In Training Sale in March. She was an impressive winner of the first race in the series, the non-listed Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse Nov. 24.
After the Cattleya Sho, trainer Teruya Yoshida said the 10 points the filly earned in that race wouldn’t matter as she would not be considered for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). But the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1)? “If she will be this good from now on, we’ll consider it,” Yoshida said of the filly who races in the silks of his mother, Kazuko Yoshida.
And trainer Koichi Shinkai said the family feels American racing might be more to the liking of the California-bred filly than Dubai, often a first option for good Japanese dirt horses. The Derby points earned in Japan would not carry over to automatically qualify Make Happy for the Oaks.
Make Happy, a full sister to 2015 Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Ralis, awaits a stern test in the 1,600-meter (about 1 mile) race Wednesday at Kawasaki Racecourse, which is administered by local authorities under the auspices of the National Association of Racing.
Chief among the rivals is Gal Vihara, a Gold Allure colt bred by Teruya Yoshida’s brother, Katsumi. Like Make Happy, Gal Vihara is undefeated in two starts, including the non-listed Platanus Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse Oct. 13.
Both Make Happy and Gal Vihara represent the Japan Racing Association, which administers the country’s major tracks. Top hope for the NAR is Mutually, a Pyro colt who is undefeated in three starts including the non-listed Kamakura Kinen at Kawasaki Oct. 17.
Make Happy earned 10 Kentucky Derby points in the Cattleya Sho. None of the other points-earners in that race will contest the Zen-Nipon Nisai Yushun, which awards points on the 20-8-4-2 scale to the first four finishers.
The series continues with the listed Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 17 at Tokyo Racecourse with placings worth 30-12-6-3 and concludes March 31 with the non-listed Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama. That race is worth 40-16-8-4.