Choices Vulnerable in Grade 1 Japan Dirt Cup

A competitive field of 14 chase Grade 1 Japan Dirt Cup.

Some mixed messages coming from the co-choice in the market for this race. Kaner Racing has Denny Way (#5, 5-1), an accomplished runner with some muddy recent form. His 4-year-old campaign was solid with 4 wins from 7 starts. Denny Way a son of Quality Road started this season off in style with a powerful stretch run to win the Grade 1 Glenn Kegagus Tradition Killer in Florida. But recent form has been lacking and he needs to turn things around as a short price in the market.

The other choice is Given’s Lantaron (#11, 5-1). A winner of last years California Derby, this son of Tapit took a while to get back to that form. When the grey colt uses his speed he’s been very dangerous and that was evident two back when he wired the field in the Big Blue Stakes. His next start was a Grade 2 in Kentucky and he was one paced throughout. His speed badge of 121 makes him a legit threat and if they use his speed and play catch me, he could be a tough foe to beat.

An interesting contender from Kingranch is Let’s Go Brandon (#7, 7-1). The recently gelded (ouch!) son of Gun Runner ran some solid races early this campaign and most recently returned to that type of form when third in the Grade 1 Hit Me. He was defeated by multiple Graded winner Upendo who raced competitively in the BB Classic earlier this month. Brandon had Denny Way about 5 lengths behind him. A knock on this one could be his 0-5 in 2023.

Grampini (#9, 8-1) is a consistent 4-year-old sent out by Kingdamo. A nice training job has lightly-raced Gramps coming into this Grade 1 off a win in the Corvette in Kentucky. The Bernardini colt used new tactics when wiring the large field at 10-1. He served notice two starts back by running a new speed badge when second in the Brookline. He’s still got upside and is one to fear.

Padrebri has Grade 2 winner Giant Exaggeration (#10, 8-1) looking to keep his win streak alive. He’s won two straight with matching 115 speed figures. No cement shoes for this one as his latest was a last-to-first win in the Hoffa. He’s taken the rights steps at age 4 and seems to be much better now that he’s found his niche at nine panels on dirt. Last season he campaigned at longer distances and his late kick was mild. This season his power has been harnessed better to provide a spicy late kick in the lane.

Baggio Racing has a pair facing the starter in Japan. Slay the Pharoah (#12, 35-1) a 3-year-old brown colt by American Pharoah. Early this season he was in fine form running against top 3-year-olds. The icing on the cake came in the form of a Grade 3 win in the Chicago Derby. The summer months was not kind as he had none of his former zip in the La Holla or Stephen Woody. An interesting note from his last time out, he earned a new speed badge when facing older foes in the GoodyGood. He would still need to improve again in this tough spot but he’s been given two months of training prep and could be ready to give a lifetime best in Japan.

The other runner from the Baggio Barn is Emphatically Yours (#8, 7-1). The son of Ghostzapper was very solid at age three when going through his allowance conditions and posting three wins and three thirds. With full confidence he was entered in the Grade 2 Scrub where he ran a mid-pack race. The connections got back to work and got him working through his conditions again posting a new speed badge of 116 before hitting back-to-back scores in New York recently. They take the step back into Graded stakes action and the horse seems more ready to compete. Like his stablemate, he’s had a good two months of training and he won’t lose on Saturday because he lacks the prep work. It’s up to horse and jockey now.

Harrylan’s Stormin Frankel (#6, 10-1) has come all the way to Japan for a dirt try. A son of Frankel from the Tapit mare, Stormin Tapit, has 4 wins and 6 other placings on turf in a 16-race career. But it was last time out when this grey colt surged past everyone late to win by two lengths that he became a contender for the Japan Dirt Cup. After going winless through a four race Stakes campaign the connections wisely gave the “other” surface a try last time out and this horse responded. Can he double up against some tough dirt horses in this Grade 1. Breeding and a confident trainer say yes!

Gaia Acolyte (#13, 7-1) is equally gifted on turf and dirt. Fortuantallida Racing have given the son of Creator a full schedule of Stakes action this season earning a victory on both surfaces. Winning at a route and sprinting. He’s very versatile and tough on his best day. The Japanese bred colt seems slightly better when going a route as he can sit off or set a good pace and keep going. Two back Acolyte set a new speed badge of 117 when third in the Bingo Bagel. His prep for this was a long sprint over this surface and he was a dull sixth with zero early zip. He’s got more to offer than that and I believe he’ll be on the pace Saturday.

Sabbath brings turf Grade 3 winner, Tete Martyrium (#3, 8-1) to Japan in search of his first win on dirt. After showing true class and stamina at age three, Marty was given the snip and sent for an extended vacation. When he returned the gelded son of Iffraaj had more tactical speed while keeping his stamina. This led to a big score in Sweden when he won a Grade 3 with a new speed badge of 121. It’s a number which tops this field and the British bred followed with three placings in Graded races. His latest was on dirt when two Sabbath runners ran away from the field impressively. He’s been given 7 weeks training prep and has everything needed to be very tough in this spot.

Intocardsdude (#1, 38-1) could’ve been claimed by anyone for $4k last August when winning as he pleased in a short sprint. His game went to another level in September when he wired the field for $35k-NW3L. But the smartest one was Corza Racing as they sent the improving Dude into a Minnesota Stakes race and he was strong throughout to win going away earning a new speed badge of 114. What if this guy keeps improving? Can he wire the Japan Cup. He’s going in the right direction.

The third and final 3-year-old in the field is Redhill Racings Way too Smooth (#2, 41-1). The gelded son of Tizway from a Stakes winning Smart Strike mare has been patiently handled and making his way through his conditions. He’s won 5 of 11 career starts and has 10 top three placings to mark his consistency. He has wins sprinting and two wins going a route. This will mark his first try in Stakes company and the connections have picked a tough spot for it. His preparation has been smart as he comes in with a win streak and 39 days of training.

TheBigShow has Immerse LV (#14, 20-1) leaving from a tough post and looking for his first Stakes victory and first win of the season. As a 3-year-old the gelded son of Kitasan Black had 3 wins from 8 starts and was looking like a nice prospect. His races this season have been flat and two back he was entered for a tag. Most recently he perked up to run third in a China allowance race and the most positive aspect was the new speed badge of 109. After a dull season the speed pick up even if only slight is a good sign that these connections might be able to turn-the-corner with this guy. He’s in tough for this assignment but it’s not impossible for him to get a nice share.

Ajay11’s Moon of Doubt (#4, 20-1) is the only horse returning to this race from last season. At this time last year, Doubt was a winning claimer in good spirits. He was sent postward in the Japan Dirt Cup at long odds and the gelded son of Almanzor went out quickly to steal it. But the strides got shorter in the lane and he faded to fifth in a career best outing. His speed that day was 114 and he’s never seen the claimers again. This season from six starts he has a third to show from the tough company. He’ll be among the pace pressure Saturday.

Fastest Speed Badge	Fastest Speed LTO	Fastest Speed @ Distance	Earnings	9f Dirt Wins
Tete Martyrium	Tete Martyrium	Lantaron	Denny Way	Lantaron
Lantaron	Let’s Go Brandon	Let’s Go Brandon	Lantaron	Denny Way
Let’s Go Brandon	Grampini	Grampini	Let’s Go Brandon	Giant Exaggeration
Grampini	Giant Exaggeration	Denny Way	Giant Exaggeration	Let’s Go Brandon
Denny Way	Intocardsdude	Giant Exaggeration	Tete Martyrium	Grampini
Gaia Acolyte	Emphatically Yours	Gaia Acolyte	Grampini	Gaia Acolyte
	Lantaron		Gaia Acolyte	Immerse LV