Silk Racing's Congestus secured his spot in the Japanese Derby (G1) by capturing the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G3) May 9, and punching his ticket to the May 31 Blue Riband of the Turf at Tokyo.
Rodeo Drive, sticking to the formula of 1-mile races, got up in the final strides to win the May 10 NHK Mile Cup (G1T) at Tokyo Racecourse while some prominent distance experimenters faltered.