A year ago, nine runners from Japan participated in the Breeders’ Cup. At that time, it was a record. That there would be more horses making the voyage across the Pacific Ocean for the Breeders’ Cup this weekend wouldn’t have surprised anyone.

But rather than incremental change, Japanese connections have kicked in the proverbial door to this year’s world championship at Del Mar with 19 contenders making the trip.

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The reasons for the growing interest are varied, but no matter who you ask one theme is consistent: the desire to win on the sport’s biggest weekend.

The last time the Breeders’ Cup was in Del Mar in 2021, it was a cause for celebration in Japan. Loves Only You became the first Japanese-based horse to win a Breeders’ Cup, capturing the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Then, Marche Lorraine followed up with an upset win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Could this weekend become a bigger moment for the country’s horse racing fans?

Trainer Hideyuki Mori is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup. He’s had nine previous runners at the World Championships and has five this year, the most among Japanese trainers. He’s never won a Breeders’ Cup race, and if morning-line odds are to be believed, his best chance is with Ecoro Sieg, the 7-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint which kicks off the 14 race series Friday afternoon.

A son of Twirling Candy, Ecoro Sieg is undefeated in his two starts. First, he won by five lengths in a six-furlong debut, finishing 0.2 seconds off the course record. He followed that up by breaking a 23-year-old Nakayama Racecourse record for 1,200 meters, which proved to be the fastest time the Japan Racing Association has recorded in the history of the Canna Stakes (1:07.2).

Mori, speaking through a translator, simply said, “He has great speed so he can handle the race here.”

Japanese connections at the post-position draw. (Eclipse Sportswire)

One of the better-known Japanese contenders is Derma Sotogake.

After falling short by one length in last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, the talented 4-year-old is back hoping to avenge that loss. He joins Forever Young, a near-miss third in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and Ushba Tesoro, who ran fifth in the 2023 Longines Classic, as Japan-based contenders for the $7 million Classic Saturday evening.

Sometimes unfamiliarity with the difference in track surfaces in the United States compared to Japan can contribute to a horse’s results. But Derma Sotogake is well traveled, having raced at Santa Anita Park and in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last year, as well as other international spots – Meydan Racecourse and King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Assistant trainer Masatoshi Segawa said the colt is in “very good condition” and has been “very enthusiastic in training.”

This year, Derma Sotogake has only raced three times with a focus on some of the sport’s bigger events. He finished fifth in the Saudi Cup and sixth in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (Ushba Tesoro was second in both races). Since then, Derma Sotogake has only had a single tune-up race for the Breeders’ Cup in which he finished fifth. He will wear blinkers in the Classic.

“This is the biggest target for Derma Sotogake and us since he finished second in this race last year,” Segawa said through a translator. “We’d like to get revenge for finishing second. We have been targeting this race throughout the year, so we hope to do our best.”

Awesome Result settles in at Del Mar. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Another prominent Japanese runner is Awesome Result. Like many of her compatriots at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Awesome Result was bred in the United States, then sold and trained in Japan.

By Justify, Awesome Result is undefeated in seven starts and is only getting stronger. Her rider, Yutaka Take, said that one of the impressive elements of Awesome Result’s development has been that she’s shown “another ability, another potential” with each race.

As the 4-1 third choice on the morning line in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she may need to find another ability or at least combine all of the ones she has developed in order to run down favored Thorpedo Anna. Take said the Distaff will be the deepest and most talented field his charge has ever faced.

“She needs to fully exert herself 120% to compete against Thorpedo Anna and that type of horse,” Take said via a translator.

Other Japanese contenders to keep an eye on include:

Don Frankie in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint: When you catch a glimpse of this physically imposing horse, it might lead to the question: How does he sprint? The answer is from the front. He’s finished first or second in 12 of his 17 career starts. After starting the year with a disappointing ninth in the February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, he bounced back with a second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Nakheel. In that race, he was unable to hold the lead down the stretch. With one warm-up race since then, the 1,300-pound-plus Don Frankie may not leave the rest of the sprint field with another option besides getting out of his way.

American Bikini in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: A stablemate of Don Frankie, American Bikini is the daughter of American Pharoah and will become the first Breeders’ Cup runner for trainer Takashi Saito when she leaves the gate. The third morning-line choice (5-1) in the Juvenile Fillies, American Bikini finished second in her maiden race at six furlongs. Then, after triumphing in a five-furlong follow-up, she won again, this time at seven furlongs. While she is starting to round into form, American Bikini has a potential advantage when she gets into the starting gate: Ryan Moore, arguably the greatest jockey on Earth, will be in the irons.