Derma Sotogake, unraced since finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby on May 6, will target the Breeders' Cup Classic despite not making his originally targeted prep race.
The 3-year-old son of Mind Your Biscuits missed his planned return race due to a foot injury according to the Japan racing news site Sponichi Keiba. That original target was the Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse on Wednesday.
Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi told Sponichi Keiba that Derma Sotogake has returned to training, and did his most recent timed exercise on Sept. 22, covering four furlongs on a sloped course in 53.6 seconds. He plans on three more serious pieces of work, including while quarantining at Miho Training Center. Derma Sotogake will enter quarantine Oct. 17 before flying to the United States.
Though Derma Sotogake misses the Nippon TV Hai, another Japan-based Breeders' Cup Classic contender is entered in that race. Ushba Tesoro drew post no. 4 in the 11-horse field for the Nippon TV Hai. The race is his first start since March 25, when he won the Dubai World Cup (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths over Algiers.
Algiers is also expected to be in action this Saturday in the Woodward (G2) at Aqueduct. His connections are also considering the Breeders' Cup Classic as a target.
