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Betting the 2021 Preakness Stakes Odds: France Go de Ina

In the days leading up to the 146th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), usracing.com is profiling the contenders. The 1 3/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown is May 15. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw early next week.

By Ed McNamara

This Japan-based colt has one of the most unusual names in Triple Crown history, so he’ll draw attention for that. To get to Pimlico he took two flights covering about 7,900 miles (Japan to Los Angeles to Newark) before a four-hour van ride.

He hasn’t run since racing sixth on March 27 in the UAE Derby, his 3-year-old debut. Joel Rosario retains the mount after riding him in Dubai that day, when they were compromised by a slow start. France Go de Ina lost all chance to catch winner Rebel’s Romance but made up ground with a grinding rally to finish about 10 lengths behind.

Last year, the Kentucky-bred son of 2013 Travers hero Will Take Charge won two 9-furlong races at Hanshin Racecourse after running fourth in his career debut at 6 1/2 furlongs.

He’ll be the first Japan-based Preakness runner since Lani, a temperamental gray who ran fifth behind Exaggerator in 2016. The durable Lani raced in all three classics, finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby and third, only 1 1/2 lengths behind Creator, in the Belmont. Two years ago, Japan’s Master Fencer ran sixth in the Derby and fifth in the Belmont after skipping the Preakness.

2021 Preakness Stakes Picks: France Go de Ina

Post position: TBD

Odds: TBD

Trainer: Hideyuki Mori

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Owner: Yuji Inaida

Career record: 4-2-0-2

Career earnings: $162,184

Best Equibase speed figure: N/A

Pedigree: Will Take Charge-Dreamy Blues, by Curlin

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Speed/stalker

Notes: The presence of Rosario, one of the country’s top riders, will make France Go de Ina’s odds shorter than they should be … Mori, a big-time trainer in his homeland, won his second straight Saudi Derby this year. Pink Kamehameha, in his dirt debut, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Cowan, ridden by Rosario and trained by Steve Asmussen. Mori won last year’s Saudi Derby with Full Flat. Second was international superstar Mishriff, who this year won the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup.

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