Sixteen 3-year-olds will contest the June 10 Tokyo Derby (G1) at Oi Racecourse. The second leg of Japan's Dirt Triple Crown carries a lucrative ¥17.275 million (approx. US$1.08M) purse.
The likely favorite Finger heads to the gate as one of four representatives of the Japan Racing Association entered in the field. The Gun Runner colt is out of 2021 Bed o'Roses Stakes (G3) winner Estilo Talentoso, a 7-furlong specialist, who also ran second in the 2021 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland behind Kimari.
Takahashi Farm bought Estilo Talentoso for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and kept the mare in Kentucky to be bred to Gun Runner in 2022, resulting in Finger, who was born in 2023. He was bought privately by Masahiko Sugono of M's Racing and sent to the barn of trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka at the Miho Training Center
Tanaka, who has trained top-class dirt runners such as 2023-24 Champions Cup (G1) winner Lemon Pop and 2025 Teio Sho (G1) winner Mikki Fight, has sensed great potential in Finger from the start.
Finger, with Keita Tosaki in the irons, won the Blue Bird Cup (G3) at Funabashi Jan. 21 and finished second in the Keihin Hai (G3) at Oi March 25, both of which are important prep races for the Haneda Hai (G1), the first leg of the Dirt Triple Crown. Finger won the April 29 Haneda Hai at Oi by a dominating 3 lengths.
