Jockey Ryusei Sakai, one of the rising stars in Japan racing, flew to Louisville, Ky., this week to be aboard UAE Derby (G2) winner Forever Young for his penultimate breeze ahead of the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1).
After the Yoshito Yahagi trainee's customary 20-minute warm-up session in the Churchill Downs mile chute, Forever Young completed a six-furlong workout April 24 in 1:19 3/5, his first recorded breeze over the track.
The time will leave many American racing fans scratching their heads, but the connections were very pleased with the results.
"We were able to do exactly the type of breeze that we needed to do this far out from the race," Sakai said in remarks translated by Churchill Downs Asia coordinator Kate Hunter.
The work was designed to be easy at the start as he crawled through an opening quarter in :28 4/5. Set down by Sakai in the lane, Forever Young completed the final quarter in :23 3/5.
Forever Young works 6 furlongs this morning in 1:19.60 for trainer Yoshito Yahagi in preparation for the 150th #KyDerby. 🏇 pic.twitter.com/yGoV1SLu8L
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 24, 2024
"He's a very fast closing horse," Sakai said. "He has that late kick."
Forever Young was joined by Cuffed Candy, an unraced 3-year-old colt trained by Dale Romans, for his workout. Cuffed Candy has been training with Forever Young every day, breaking ahead of the Japanese horse and giving him a chance to experience kickback while chasing a target. On Wednesday, Forever Young surged past him in the stretch before drawing away.
"Having Dale's horse work with us every day helps the horse focus," Sakai said. "He's a pretty smart horse. When he sees the exit, he's going to want to go that way. It helps him focus on the job in front of him."
Romans has helped provide workmates in the past for Japanese Derby contenders.
"If we can help them, we do," Romans said. "We want to welcome them to Kentucky. One of these days, they'll come here and win one."
Sakai shares the belief that one day a Japanese horse will wear the garland of roses, and he hopes that his horse will be the one considering his perfect record and more than $2 million in earnings for owner Susumu Fujita.
"He's a very unique horse," Sakai said. "He's never been beaten, he's pretty special. Ever since he won the Zennippon Nisai Yushun in December we've been focusing on coming here for the Kentucky Derby. We've had that in mind all the way through. Between that, his experience this year, and his innate talent, I'm pretty hopeful."
Following his work, Forever Young returned to the chute where he schooled in the Derby starting gate, which Sakai said he handled very well. The son of Real Steel will hand walk tomorrow before returning to the track to prepare for his final recorded breeze next week.
Exercise rider Yusaku Oka will be aboard for the final breeze as Sakai will have a busy week ahead of him. He leaves the morning of April 25 to head home to Japan where he will ride in Kyoto April 27. The next day, the 26-year-old will ride at Sha Tin in Hong Kong before competing in a grade 1 in Japan May 1. The following day, he will fly back to the United States.
On May 3, Sakai will have the opportunity to race on the track ahead of the Derby as he pilots T O Saint Denis, stablemate of Japan's other Derby contender T O Password, in the Alysheba Stakes (G2).
"It's a great chance to be able to ride the surface before the Kentucky Derby," Sakai said. "It's a unique opportunity."
Sakai nearly had that unique opportunity a year prior as he was scheduled to ride Continuar, who scratched days before the race. Despite the misfortune, Sakai made the most of his opportunity to experience the Kentucky Derby, studying the aspects that make it one of the most unique sporting events in the world.
"I saw the crowds and everything the horse has to go through and I feel more confident in myself to be able to deal with that," Sakai said. "I really wanted to come back. I didn't think I would be back quite this soon, so I was pleasantly surprised to end up back here again."
Cheering him on in the grandstand will be his father Hidemitsu Sakai, a former jockey on Japan's National Association of Racing circuit, who is now a trainer. He will also carry the weight of a nation longing to win another marquee race.
"This is the biggest race in the United States and is one Japan hasn't won yet," Sakai said. "They're always very keen to see us come out on top and become a champion horse—not just in Japan, but in America as well."
