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Master Fencer was coming in at 10-1 odds of winning Saturday's Belmont Stakes. The payout would be $100 for every $10 bet.
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Master Fencer finished 6th in the Kentucky Derby, his first major race in the States. He finished fourth in the Hyacinth Stakes and then second in the Fukuryu Stakes, two of the four races in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series. That placed him 4th on the qualifiers list for the Kentucky Derby out of Japan.
The three Japanese horses ahead of Master Fencer passed on their invitation, and the colt's owner, Katsumi Yoshizawa, jumped at the opportunity to compete in the American classics.
"The owner himself, Mr. Yoshizawa, decided. He said that if he had a chance, he wanted to race in the United States," Tsunoda said. "I am so appreciative that he made such a courageous decision, and I hope we can meet his expectations."
A Japan-based or -bred horse has yet to win an American Triple Crown race. Two have finished in third place: Sunday Break in 2002 and Lani in 2016.
There is a reason to be hopeful.
"Belmont's main track plays as close to a Japanese track as they'll find in the United States," said Martin Panza, the New York Racing Association's senior vice president for racing operations. "They run on deep, sandy tracks, and you will get as close to emulating their surfaces as you can here. I would think a Japanese horse will run their best race here."
Master Fencer is trained by Koichi Tsunoda.
2019 Belmont Stakes Betting odds
06:37 PM 10 Tacitus +150
9 War of Will +250
3 Master Fencer +1000
5 Bourbon War +1200
2 Everfast +1200
8 Intrepid Heart +1200
6 Spinoff +1600
7 Sir Winston +1800
4 Tax +1800
1 Joevia +3300
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
