Dry Stout much the best in Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Dec 15, 2021 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Heavy favorite Dry Stout galloped to the top of the Japan
Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a dominant victory in Wednesday’s
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki. The unbeaten colt extended his record to a
perfect 3-for-3 while setting a new stakes record in style.

A son of 2006 Blue Grass (G1) romper Sinister Minister, Dry
Stout was sent off as the 4-5 choice in his stakes debut. The Mitsunori Makiura
trainee took up a close stalking spot, tracking front-running filly Kaikano
Kiseki, until taking over on the far turn with ears pricked. Jockey Keita
Tosaki hand rode him down the lane as he cruised by 2 1/2 lengths.

Dry Stout negotiated the metric mile on a good track in
1:39.2, a stakes record according to netkeiba.com. The dark bay banked 20 points
to become the new Japan Road leader. The first leg of the series, the Nov. 27
Cattleya S., was worth 10 points to the winning Consigliere.

Godolphin’s Combustion, the only rival who tried to
challenge Dry Stout in the stretch, had to settle for eight points as the second-best. Another
five lengths back came Praelude in third, good for four points, and Sekifu
received two points as a non-threatening fourth.

S’il Te Plait collared early leader Kaikano Kiseki for
fifth. Ryan, Nudge, hitherto undefeated Ice Giant, Bow Chaser, Noblesse Noah,
Nine Viper, Marine Sky, and Moriden Black rounded out the order of finish.

YGG Horse Club Co.’s Dry Stout has employed stalk-and-pounce
tactics in all of his starts. Premiering in an about six-furlong event for
newcomers at Chukyo, he drafted in third and kicked on late on a sloppy track.
Dry Stout worked out a similar trip in a Nov. 13 allowance at Tokyo, where he
drew off by five lengths and clocked a strong 1:23.9 for about seven furlongs.

That running style makes Dry Stout a fascinating prospect
for Dubai, if connections opt to go abroad. The Mar. 26 UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai
World Cup night offers points on the 100-40-20-10 scale, applicable to the main leaderboard. The remaining stops on the Japan Road are the Hyacinth S. at Tokyo in February and the Fukuryu S. at Nakayama. 

Bred by Shimokobe Farm in Japan, Dry Stout is out of the
Afleet mare Must Buy Item. Further back, he hails from the extended family of
1968 Belmont S. champion Stage Door Johnny.