Photo:

Shamela Hanley / Eclipse Sportswire – edited composite

The international contingent pre-entered for Breeders’ Cup 2024 includes 19 horses from Japan. Kentucky Derby runner-up Forever Young is drawing plenty of attention, but the others are less well-known.

Here’s a quick rundown of the Japan-based runners in the Breeders’ Cup pre-entries.

Ecoro Azel, Juvenile. This Shancelot colt trained by Hideyuki Mori won his debut in July at six furlongs then was fifth of 10 in his only other start, going seven furlongs in September.

Shin Believe, Juvenile. Also trained by Mori, this Constitution colt won his only start going 1 1/8 miles in August.

American Bikini, Juvenile Fillies. Sired by American Pharoah and trained by Takashi Saito, she was second in his June debut at six furlongs then won in July at five furlongs. She returned in September with a win at seven furlongs.

Otomena Shacho, Juvenile Fillies. This Speightstown filly trained by Mori was third in her June debut and second next out in July, both at five furlongs. She returned in September with a five-length win at six furlongs

Satono Carnaval, Juvenile Turf. This son of Kitasan Black is 2-for-2 for trainer Noriyuki Hori but hasn’t had a start since July.

Ecoro Sieg, Juvenile Turf Sprint. This Twirling Candy colt, another Mori runner, is 2-for-2. He debuted in August and won again on Sept. 21, both at six furlongs.

Derma Sotogake, Classic. Sired by Mind Your Biscuits and trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, he was sixth last year in the Kentucky Derby and then second to White Abarrio in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. In three starts this year, he was fifth in the Saudi Cup (G1) and sixth in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He returned from a break to finish fifth last month in the Nippon TV Hai. He has second preference in the Dirt Mile.

Forever Young, Classic. The Real Steel colt trained by Yoshito Yahagi was 5-for-5, including wins in the Saudi Derby (G2) and UAE Derby (G2), before finishing third by two noses in the Kentucky Derby. He didn’t return until Oct. 2, when he won the Japan Dirt Classic at 1 1/4 miles.

Ushba Tesoro, Classic. The 6-year-old son of Orfevre trained by Noboru Takagi finished fifth in the Classic last year. This year, he has three seconds from three starts, the Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup and the Nippon TV Hai.

Awesome Result, Distaff. This 4-year-old Justify filly trained by Yasutoshi Ikee is 7-for-7 overall and 3-for-3 this year, with this year’s starts coming in February, May and August. Distance won’t be a problem, as the Distaff would be her shortest race this season.

Rousham Park, Turf. This 5-year-old son of Harbinger, trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, is 0-for-3 this year, most recently finishing 10th of 14 in a 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 race in Tokyo. He won two graded stakes last year.

Shahryar, Turf. The 6-year-old son of Deep Impact, trained by Hideaki Fujiwara, is 0-for-2 this year, finishing second to Rebel’s Romance in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G2) and then fifth in a Grade 2 in August.

Geoglyph, Mile. Sired by Drefong and trained by Tetsuya Kimura, this 5-year-old is 0-for-4 this year, most recently finishing second in a Grade 2 in Japan. His career record is 17: 3-2-1.

Ten Happy Rose, Mile. This 6-year-old mare sired by Epiphaneia and trained by Daisuke Takayanagi is 1-for-4 this year, but that win came in the Victoria Mile (G1).

T O Saint Denis, Dirt Mile. This 5-year-old son of Kitasan Black, also trained by Takayanagi, is winless in his last 10 starts. In his only U.S. start, he was second to First Mission in the Alysheba (G2) after faltering and losing the lead.

Don Frankie, Sprint. This 5-year-old by Daiwa Major, trained by Saito, finished second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in March then returned in August to win a Japan stakes.

Meta Max, Sprint. This 4-year-old Into Mischief colt trained by Mori started the year with two out-of-the-money finishes then took a break and returned with a second-place effort in a July stakes and a win in August.

Remake, Sprint. This 5-year-old son of Lani, trained by Koichi Shintani, won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) in February and the Korea Sprint (G3) in September, with a fourth-place finish in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in between.

Alice Verite, Filly & Mare Turf. This 4-year-old filly by Kizuna, trained by Kazuya Nakatake, has a 6: 3-2-0 record this year, including a win in a Grade 3 stakes in June. She returned in September with a 10th-place finish in another Grade 3.