Admire Daytona qualifies for Kentucky Derby with win in Dubai

Admire Daytona earned a position in the Kentucky Derby as the Yukihiro Kato-trained colt held on to beat Heart of Honor by a nose in the UAE Derby in Dubai on Saturday.

This is the fourth consecutive year that a Japan-based horse has won the UAE Derby. Admire Daytona ran the 1 3/16-mile track at the Meydan Racecourse in just shy of two minutes -- 1:59:13.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Admire Daytona broke well and took to the lead, joining Rafid in pulling ahead from the pack.

Heart of Honor, ridden by Saffie Osborne, and Don In The Mood, with Ryusei Sakai aboard, emerged to challenge in the final turn.

It became a three-horse duel down the stretch, and the photo finish showed Admire Daytona holding on despite Heart of Honor's surge in the final strides to earn 100 points and vault to the top of the standings after the final race in the Euro-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby.

ADMIRE DAYTONA wins the 5th round "UAE Derby" at Dubai World Cup 2025 sponsored by Jumeirah. pic.twitter.com/mcVMOj8Ity

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 5, 2025

Breaking at 10-1, Admire Daytona paid $22.20 to win and $5.50 to show. Heart of Honor, was the second choice at 5-2, paid $3.20, and Don In The Mood paid $5.60.

Flood Zone, the Brad Cox-trained colt who was the 2-1 favorite coming off his win last month at the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, was not a factor, finishing seventh in the field of nine.

The race is one of the final major preps for the Kentucky Derby. The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby in California will run on Saturday, and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., has been rescheduled to Tuesday due to inclement weather.

The 151st Kentucky Derby is set to be run May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

--Field Level Media