Derma Sotogake (JPN)

Derma Sotogake led home a 1-2-3-4 sweep for Japan with a win in the Group 2 $1 million UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup undercard on March, 25, 2023. With his victory, he earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard — more than enough to qualify for the race.

Derma Sotogake's 5 1/2-length victory in the UAE Derby was emphatic. He was timed in 1:55.81 for the race at about 1 3/16 miles. Derma Sotogake returned $14.50 for a $2 win wager in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool.

In the Kentucky Derby, Derma Sotogake ran an even sixth and did not make another start until the Nov. 4 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he went off as a longshot. He outran those high odds to finish a solid second behind White Abarrio.

Derma Sotogake is a son of Mind Your Biscuits, who twice won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. Out of the Neo Universe mare Amur Poesie, Derma Sotogake was bred by Northern Farm. He took four tries to get his first win as a 2-year-old, then won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Race Course on Dec. 14. He started 2023 with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Saudi Derby on the Saudi Cup undercard on Feb. 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

Before winning the UAE Derby, Derma Sotogake had already been second on the Churchill Downs-created Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.