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Do Deuce carries jockey Yutaka Take to record sixth Japanese Derby win
Third-favorite Do Deuce unleashed incredible speed for jockey Yutaka Take and conquered the Tokyo Yushun (G1) (Japanese Derby) Saturday in the stakes record time of 2:21.9 for 2,400 meters (about 1 ½ miles).
Take scored a record sixth Japanese Derby win after previously taking the classic with Special Week (1998), Admire Vega (1999), Tanino Gimlet (2002), Deep Impact (2005), and Kizuna (2013). The rider is now the oldest Derby-winning jockey at the age of 53.
Last year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) winner, while undefeated in three career starts at the time, Do Deuce was named Japan’s Best Two-Year-Old Colt of 2021. Commencing this season with a runner-up effort in the Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen (G2) in March, the Heart’s Cry colt was sent off first pick and displayed the fastest late drive in the following Satsuki Sho (G1) (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) in April but finished third. After his latest victory in the Osaka Hai with Potager in April, winning trainer Yasuo Tomomichi is now the proud owner of 16 JRA-G1 titles which also include two Derby victories: with Makahiki in 2016 and Wagnerian in 2018.
Do Deuce, a bit slow out of the gate, camped fifth from the rear and right behind race favorite Dano Beluga before shifting to the outside rounding for home. Steadily accelerating with good force, the bay colt picked off his rivals one by one, drew even with the tiring Ask Victor More 150 meters out and held on well while warding off a strong challenge from Equinox by a neck.
“This is a truly emotional experience for me and I couldn’t be happier,” Take said after the race. “Though my colt isn’t such a good starter, we were able to sit in an ideal position so the fast pace didn’t bother me. He had so much left in the tank at the final corner when I asked him for his run—he responded amazingly and took the lead earlier than planned but held on well to the wire. It’s so wonderful to be able to win in front of a packed stand—you couldn’t be a jockey and not dream of living this moment. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) should be a strong option for the owner and will probably be our next target.”
Second pick Equinox was unhurried in third from the rear after breaking from the widest stall. Gradually switching to an outer path after meeting traffic in early stretch, the Kitasan Black colt launched his bid at the 400-meter pole just behind the winner and although timed the fastest over the last three furlongs, was a neck short at the line in pinning the winner.
Sent off seventh choice, Ask Victor More chased the solid pace set by Desierto four to five lengths behind in second, inherited the lead 400 meters out and although outrun by Do Deuce and then Equinox, showed tenacity in holding off the race favorite to finish a respectable two-length third.
Danon Beluga, race favorite and fourth in the Satsuki Sho, broke smoothly and camped right between Onyankopon and Satsuki Sho winner Geoglyph in midpack. After struggling to find room in early stretch, jockey Yuga Kawada guided him to clear running room and accelerated well but was too late and finished a neck from Ask Victor More in fourth.
Do Deuce, owned by Kieffers Co. Ltd., was bred by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm from the Vindication mare Dust and Diamonds, a graded stakes winner who was runner-up in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Yoshida bought the mare for $1 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.
