Finger (JPN) is poised to sweep the Japanese Triple Crown after winning Wednesday’s $1.059 million Tokyo Derby at Ohi Racecourse.
The bay 3-year-old captured the first leg of the series on Apr. 29; the Haneda Hai S. going the metric nine furlongs. Finger can sweep the Triple Crown, formally initiated in 2024, in the Japan Dirt Classic over this same course and distance as the Tokyo Derby on Oct. 7.
After an alert break from post 12, Finger took the lead before getting to the first turn and relaxed nicely as he continued to hold the top spot down the backstretch. After fending off a pair of challengers on the final turn, Finger extended his margin after turning for home. He then easily held off Silver Ratio (JPN) to win by 1 ½-lengths
Finger covered the 2,000 meters in 2:04.40 on a “heavy” main track.
The winner is owned by M’s Racing and was bred by Takahashi Farm. Finger’s overall record is now 4-4-0 from eight starts, with earnings of $1,303,031.
Pedigree notes from the TDN
Winner of the GIII Bed O’ Roses Stakes and placed in the GI Madison Stakes and GI Derby City Distaff Stakes, Finger’s dam Estilo Talentoso was purchased by Japanese connections for $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and was bred to Gun Runner prior to her export to Japan.
