UAE Derby winner Lani finished 9th in the 2016 Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.
The first Japanese-trained colt to challenge the 1-1/4 mile Grade 1 race in 21 years, Lani jumped out late at the start and, although showed late speed, failed to catch the frontrunners, including winner Nyquist, which won his eighth consecutive race. Exaggerator and Gun Runner followed Nyquist in second and third place, respectively.
Lani won the Grade 2 UAE Derby on March 26 and travelled straight from Dubai to the USA to take on the first leg of the American Triple Crown.
“The horse and connections did their best in a tough environment,” said Yutaka Take, Lani’s jockey. “The pace of the race was too quick, but (Lani) did his best to catch up in the end. As was expected, the Kentucky Derby is not an easy race, but he did show his character, so I’m looking forward to the next race.”
“The pace of the other horses was quick,” Lani’s trainer Mikio Matsunaga said. “It was unfortunate that the track got soft with the rain just before the race. I think he stretched well in the final straight.”
Lani, a grey horse by Tapit out of the Sunday Silence mare Heavenly Romance, has three wins from seven starts. He is owned by Koji Maeda and was bred by North Hills Co. Limited.
