Lani is a 20-1 chance for the Kentucky Derby – where she would be the first Japanese-trained winner – after guaranteeing a place in the field at Churchill Downs on 7 May with victory in the United Arab Emirates Derby here at Meydan on Saturday.
Polar Falcon, unbeaten in her four starts, was sent off as the hot favourite to complete a triple crown of the UAE fillies’ Classics but struggled for room in the straight after Yutaka Take and Lani hit the front inside the final furlong and could only close to within three-quarters of a length at the line.
“The plan is to go from here to Kentucky,” Mikio Matsunaga, Lani’s trainer, said. “He will ship to Kentucky in four or five days’ time.”
