{"id":16261,"date":"2024-04-19T16:10:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T16:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kentuckyderbybettingsites.net\/?p=16261"},"modified":"2024-04-26T15:32:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T15:32:51","slug":"forever-young-horse-kentucky-derby-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kentuckyderbybettingsites.net\/features\/forever-young-horse-kentucky-derby-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Forever Young Become The First Horse To Win The Kentucky Derby From Japan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"japan\n

Forever Young is the horse from Japan carrying their big Kentucky Derby hope in 2024 as the unbeaten star from the Far East looks to ruffle a few US feathers and become the first Japanese horse to win the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs on May 4.
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The Japan Road To The Kentucky Derby Explained
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Until more recent years having a non-US horse in the Kentucky Derby<\/strong> was tricky.<\/p>\n

Yes, it wasn’t prohibited but with the final entries made up of horses that have to obtain points by winning certain Kentucky Derby prep races<\/a>, that were run in the US, meant it was really hard for international runners to qualify.<\/p>\n

However, the landscape slightly changed in 2017 after the Japanese-bred Lani ran well in the three Triple Crown races that year included a 9th in the Kentucky Derby. Plus was also 5th in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes.<\/p>\n

This led Churchill Downs to partner with the Japan Racing Association and come up with a ‘Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby’ to make it easier for Far East horses to qualify and also give the race a more international feel.<\/p>\n

At first just two races were included – the 2 year-old Cattelya Sho and the 3 year-old Hyacinth Stakes. But, in 2018 more races were added that included the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (2yo) and Fukuryu Stakes (3yo).<\/p>\n

Then, once these contests had been run, the horse with the most points was awarded a place at the Kentucky Derby. While if that horse decided not to run it would be offered down to the horse with the second most points, and so on.<\/p>\n

Forever Young Looking To Become The First Kentucky Derby Winning Horse From Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"ForeverThe $1m UAE Derby, which Forever Young landed earlier his season (watch below), is another non-US race that carries the carrot of having big Road to the Kentucky Derby points, with 100 going to the winner.<\/p>\n

Therefore, that haul of points is enough to see Forever Young qualify for the May 4 race and will head to Churchill Downs unbeaten 5-from-5 and as one of the big fancies with the Kentucky Derby racebooks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If he can win the 150th edition of the Run For The Roses, Forever Young will become the first horse from Japan to take the prize and only the sixth non US-bred horse in the history the Kentucky Derby.<\/p>\n

Prior to that UAE Derby win, Forever Young also took the Saudi Derby this season (watch below) so is actually on a Derby three-timer ahead of his trip to Kentucky.<\/p>\n

T O Password Could Also Fly The Kentucky Derby Flag For Japan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another runner from Japan could be T O Password, who won the Fukuryu Stakes this season at Nakayama racecourse (watch below) and is the horse that have earned the most points from the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby this season.<\/p>\n

The Daisuke Takayanagi-trained horse is 2-from-2 from his opening races and Japan horse racing fans will be hoping he can make the trip to Churchill Downs too.<\/p>\n