2023 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Entries, Odds and Predictions: Derma Sotogake

2023 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Entries, Odds and Predictions: Derma Sotogake

The 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve will be run on Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The purse is $3 million, with $1.86 million going to the winner. US Racing is profiling each horse in the field. The post-position draw is Monday, May 1. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw.

By US Racing Team

After his horse blew away the field to win the UAE Derby (G2) by 5 ½ lengths and qualify for the Kentucky Derby (G1), the owner of Derma Sotogake did not hesitate: “Yes, I will go,” said 73-year-old Hiroyuki Asanuma.

Not only will Derma Sotogake give Japan a strong shot at winning the Kentucky Derby for the first time, but it will also be the first time the longtime owner has been to Churchill Downs, or Kentucky for that matter.

“I have been in this business for 30 years and this is my first big horse,” Asanuma said after the UAE Derby on March 25.

While the chestnut son of Mind Your Biscuits, along with fellow Japan-bred Continuar, the connections will arrive Derby week.

Derma Sotogake has won four of his last five races after starting his career 0-for-3. He ran third in the Saudi Derby prior to his impressive romp in Dubai, with Japan-based horses finishing 1-2-3-4. Continuar was third, 10 lengths behind the winner.

On April 19, the colt had his first breeze at Churchill Downs, going 4 furlongs in 49.60 seconds under exercise rider Masatoshi Segawa.

“I am really happy with how he moved today,” Segawa said after the work. “He felt great. We didn’t want to go too fast today so I had to keep a strong hold on him throughout and even then he performed brilliantly. Now I can start to get really excited about Derby Day.”

On April 26, the colt was clocked going 4 furlongs in 48.60 and 1:01.40 for 5 furlongs under Segawa.

Kate Hunter, the representative for the Japan Racing Association, said the track surface at Churchill seems to be firmer than in Japan and Dubai, but feels Derma Sotogake is comfortable on the track.

Japan-based horses have excelled over the past year, winning big races all over the world. Could a win in the Derby be next?

2023 Kentucky Derby Entries: Derma Sotogake

Post position: 17

Odds: 10-1

Trainer: Hidetaka Otanashi

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma

Career record: 8-4-0-1

Career earnings: $1,162,164

Derby qualifying points: 100 (7th)

Best Equibase speed figure: NA

Pedigree: Mind Your Biscuits-Amour Poesie, by Neo Universe

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Front-runner

Notes: Horses coming from the UAE Derby are 0-for-18 in the Kentucky Derby (best finish was fifth by Master of Hounds in 2011) … Kate Hunter, the JRA rep for Churchill Downs, explains the name Derma Sotogake: “So, Mr. Asanuma uses the word Derma in front of all of his horses. It’s like a prefix that he uses for every one of his racehorses. And it’s short for dermatology because he’s a dermatologist. He has a successful practice in Hokkaido And then, each year, he chooses a theme for naming his 2-year-olds. And last year, it was sumo techniques. And Sotogake is a kind of leg behind your opponent trip move in sumo.”

Kentucky Derby 2023 Odds

PP Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Odds
1 Hit Show Franco Brad H. Cox West, Gary and Mary 30-1
2 Verifying Gaffalione Brad H. Cox Poulin, Jonathan, Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B. 15-1
3 Two Phil’s Loveberry Larry Rivelli Patricia’s Hope LLC and Sagan, Phillip 12-1
4 Conficence Game Graham J. Keith Desormeaux Don’t Tell My Wife Stables 20-1
5 Tapit Trice Saez Todd A. Pletcher Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) 5-1
6 Kinkngbarns J. Ortiz Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm LLC 12-1
7 Reincartnate Velazquez Tim Yakteen SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine 50-1
8 Mage Castellano Gustavo Delgado OGMA Investments, LLC, Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH 15-1
SCR Skinner Hernandez John A. Shirreffs C R K Stable 20-1
SCR Practical Move Vazquez Tim Yakteen Amestoy, Jr., Pierre Jean, Amestoy, Leslie A. and Beasley, Roger K. SCR
9 Disarm Rosario Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC 30/1
10 Jace’s Road Geroux Brad H. Cox West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC 15-1
11 Sun Thunder Hernandez Jr Kenneth G. McPeek R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine 30-1
12 Angel Of Empire Prat Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables LLC 8-1
13 Forte I. Ortiz JR. Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable 3-1
14 Raise Can Corrales Ben Colebrook Warren, Andrew and Warren, Rania 15-1
15 Derma Sotogake Lemaire Hidetaka Otonashi Hiroyuki Asanuma 10-1
16 Rocket Can Alvarado William I. Mott Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. 15-1
SCR Lord Miles Lopez Todd A. Pletcher Vegso Racing Stable 30-1
17 Continuar Sakai Yoshito Yahagi Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. 50-1
18 Cyclone Mischief J. Rosario D. Romans Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons. 30-1
19 Mandarin Hero Kazushi Kimura Terunobu Fujita Hiroaki Arai. 20-1
20 King Russell Rafael Bejarano Ron Moquett Jones, Brereton C. and Naber Racing, LLC 50-1
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