Admire Daytona fends off Heart of Honor in UAE Derby, tops Euro/Mideast Road

After Luxor Cafe clinched his invitation to the Kentucky Derby (G1) via the Japan Road, his form was upheld in Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) by Admire Daytona, who booked his own ticket to Louisville at Meydan. Trained by Yukihiro Kato and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the 10-1 chance just lasted from Heart of Honor to prevail in the finale of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Although not an early nominee to the Triple Crown, Admire Daytona is already confirmed to accept the Kentucky Derby invitation as the Euro/Mideast Road winner with 100 points to his credit. Heart of Honor’s 50 points would be more than enough to qualify for the second Euro/Mideast Road invitation, but he was not nominated by the early deadline. Nor was third-placer Don in the Mood (25 points), so stay tuned for their plans.

The pace was expected to come from another Japanese contender, Shin Forever, and U.S. shipper Flood Zone, the 2-1 favorite on the strength of his Gotham (G3) victory. But neither got near the front in a tactical plot twist that foreshadowed their subpar results.

Instead, Admire Daytona scampered forward on the inside and found himself pestered by local longshot Rafid. Shrugging him off in straightforward fashion, Admire Daytona then braced for more serious bids from Don in the Mood and Heart of Honor. A three-way stretch duel ensued, until Don in the Mood was the first to crack.

By that point, Heart of Honor was gradually getting the better of Admire Daytona, only to wander in the final strides. In contrast, Admire Daytona clung on grimly with the rail to guide him. The two crossed the wire virtually in unison, but the camera revealed that Admire Daytona’s nose was fractionally first. 

Don in the Mood checked in another two lengths adrift in third. Triple Crown-nominated Shin Forever picked up 15 points in fourth, trailed by UAE Oaks (G3) winner Queen Azteca (10 points), Dragon, Flood Zone, Rafid, and Galactic Star. 

The fourth consecutive UAE Derby winner representing Japan, Admire Daytona negotiated about 1 3/16 miles in 1:59.13 and paid $22.20.

Junko Kondo’s colorbearer now sports a mark of 6-2-2-0, including a near-miss to Luxor Cafe in a Nov. 23 maiden in juvenile track-record time at Tokyo. He reappeared to break his maiden over the same metric mile on Feb. 8. Wheeling back for the Feb. 23 Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road, Admire Daytona closed from an unpromising position for fourth behind Luxor Cafe. More aggressive tactics paid off here.

Bred by Northern Racing in Japan, Admire Daytona is by U.S. champion sprinter Drefong and out of the Shackleford mare Ice Pastel. This is the family of Grade 3 scorers Weyburn and Yorkton, descending from multiple Grade 1 queen Maplejinsky.