Fujita has high hopes for Mandarin Hero in Santa Anita Derby
At 0h01, on March 21, 2023 • By SANTA ANITA
Japanese trainer Terunobu Fujita was on hand at Santa Anita getting the lay of the land ahead of his historic participation in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 8 with Mandarin Hero.
Fujita, 46, will be the first trainer from Japan’s National Association of Racing to start a horse in the U.S. when Mandarin Hero goes postward for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Japan’s NAR circuit is comprised of regional tracks that race mostly on dirt. It is generally considered to be a notch below that of the more prominent Japan Racing Association, which races mostly on turf.
Mandarin Hero was a perfect 4-for-4 last year as a 2-year-old and in one start this year was a fast-closing second in a 1 1/8-mile stake on Feb. 23. All five of his races were run at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo.
Owned by Hiroaki Arai, Mandarin Hero is a dark brown colt from the first Japanese crop of Shanghai Bobby, North America’s champion 2-year-old male of 2012. Shanghai Bobby spent his first five seasons at stud in Kentucky before being sold to Japanese interests in 2018.
