With last year’s champion, Lemon Pop, leading the Japanese charge on the Saudi Cup (G1), Sunday’s February (G1) at Tokyo had a more open look. Even so, few could have foreseen the magnitude of the upset in store.

Last seen finishing second to champion Modern Games in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on turf, Shirl’s Speight makes a bold attempt on the Tokyo dirt in Sunday’s February S. (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

On another banner night on the world stage for Japan, Triple Crown-nominated Crown Pride rolled in Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) and staked claims to represent his homeland in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

The Dubai World Cup (G1) may be the showpiece of dirt racing on Saturday at Meydan, but there’s also a Kentucky Derby qualifier, a Group 1 sprint and a Group 2 mile.

The Bob Baffert-trained Pinehurst prevailed in the Saudi Derby (G3), and Christophe Lemaire capped a four-win Saudi Cup Day with yet another Japanese shipper, Dancing Prince, in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3).

Southern California shipper Pinehurst bids to move forward in an eclectic Saudi Derby (G3) on Saudi Cup Day. Ginobili was set to shorten up for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3), but he is now reportedly scratched.

The early nominees for the 2022 Triple Crown were announced Monday, with 312 sophomores eligible. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Corniche and Juvenile Fillies (G1) romper Echo Zulu top the list.