2024 Champions Cup: One-line assessments

Japan’s reigning champion dirt horse, Lemon Pop, will try to conclude his career on a high note as he defends his title in Saturday night’s Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo. 

Perhaps still remembered in its original incarnation as the Japan Cup Dirt, the about 1 1/8-mile test is carded as the 11th race with a post time of 1:30 a.m. ET early Sunday morning.

Although Lemon Pop is the one to beat, the pace dynamic could be more challenging than it was a year ago. The Godolphin color-bearer blasted off from the far outside post last December, but now he’ll break from post 2 with Crown Pride next door on the rail. Lemon Pop’s trainer, Hiroyasu Tanaka, actually prefers the inside draw from a tactical perspective, but remains cautious about the distance being at the upper end of his range.

If Crown Pride, the UAE Derby (G2) winner who contributed to the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) pace meltdown, and Lemon Pop get embroiled in an early war, they are liable to set it up for a rival swooping from off the pace. Wilson Tesoro is the most obvious beneficiary, but Gaia Force might offer the best value.

Here’s a one-line summary of the 16 entrants, in post position order:

#1 Crown Pride: Near-misser in the 2022 Champions Cup just crushed the Korea Cup (G3) for the second straight year; reportedly coping with the travel much better. 

#2 Lemon Pop: Defending champion has won six straight in Japan, with the only poor efforts of his career coming in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. 

#3 Hagino Alegrias: Last year’s sixth-placer warmed up by capturing the same prep, the Sirius (G3), but this time it was staged at Chukyo. 

#4 Peptide Nile: February (G1) upsetter proved that was no fluke by pushing Lemon Pop throughout the Mile Championship Nambu Hai last out.

#5 Peisha Es: Multiple Group 3 scorer exits a fourth in the Musashino (G3) to the much-the-best Emperor Wakea.

#6 Dura Erede: Last year’s third-placer enters in lackluster form but picks up Ryan Moore.

#7 Seraphic Call: Last year’s disappointing 10th has become a money-burner, but new rider Cristian Demuro plans to secure better position aboard the closer. 

#8 Wilson Tesoro: Last year’s troubled but fast-finishing runner-up comes off a superb victory in the JBC Classic.

#9 T O Drefong: Half-brother to past dirt champion Espoir City is on an upward curve after a pair of Group 3 placings and his first listed stakes score.

#10 Ater Astraea: The lone female entrant has something to prove as last year’s ninth-placer. 

#11 Mitono O: Winner of the May 18 Heian (G3) has yet to regain that level of form this fall.

#12 Sunrise Zipangu: Lone sophomore placed third to Forever Young in the Japan Dirt Classic before defeating elders in the Miyako (G3). 

#13 Mick Fire: Sophomore star of 2023 on the local NAR circuit has yet to land a blow versus elders, but the booking of top jockey Christophe Lemaire implies substantive hope for improvement. 

#14 Suleyman: Half-brother to the great turfiste Gentildonna hasn’t been magnificent so far, but seconds in his past two hint that he’s still progressing.

#15 Gloria Mundi: Well-beaten also-ran in the last two runnings of the Champions Cup regained the winning thread in listed company in his latest.

#16 Gaia Force: Useful turf performer, last seen finishing fourth in the Yasuda Kinen (G1), was second in the February in his only dirt attempt so far.

Good luck, and enjoy the Champions Cup!