Japan Road

The three-year-old colt Itterasshai, owned by Japanese entrepreneur Takafumi Horie, will compete in the Fukuryu Stakes on March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse as a final preparation for a potential run in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Trainer Makoto Saito decided to skip the UAE Derby due to safety concerns. A win in the Fukuryu could position Itterasshai at the top of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.