Danox Co. Ltd's Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) validated 11-10 favoritism with a convincing victory in Saturday's $227,900 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, easily defeating pacesetting Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend), who was finishing runner-up for the third time in the four-race series.The pair has each amassed 40 points towards the automatic Japanese berth at Churchill on the first Saturday in May and because he is an original nominee to the Triple Crown, Danon Bourbon is–for the time being–on the top line. Per Churchill Downs rule, any ties are broken by lifetime earnings, and by that metric, Don Erectus would earn the bid, but he was not among the original Triple Crown entries and would need to be supplemented for $6,000 at the Apr. 6 closing.Having won his first two races by some 15 1/2 lengths combined–the first from the front going 1800 meters and most recently from a stalking position over slightly further–the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was content to take a sit from a close-up third and unhurried as Don Erectus went a good gallop over a rain-affected strip that yields strong fractions.Poised three deep as they rounded the second turn, Danon Bourbon came after Don Erectus with about 200 meters to travel and produced yet another strong run through the wire to take it by 3 1/2 solid lengths.A half-sister to former 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense), GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon), Wild Ridge–a daughter of MGSW & GISP Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat)–was purchased by Blue Heaven Farm for $220,000 in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at Keeneland November in 2016, and this colt is one of her five winners from six to the races.Wild Ridge is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist, a yearling filly by Mage and is due to Timberlake for 2026. Saturday's Results:FUKURYU S. (Allowance), ¥36,540,000 ($227,900), Nakayama, 3-28, 3yo, 1800m, 1:50.8, my.1–DANON BOURBON, 126, c, 3, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit. ($450,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe; J-Atsuya Nishimura; ¥19,238,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $222,733. *1/2 to Clubhouse (Speightstown), SP, $223,473.2–Don Erectus (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Danon Legend–Dona Primo (Jpn), by Furioso (Jpn).O/B-Koichi Yamada; T-Noboru Takagi; J-Kiwamu Ogino; ¥7,668,000.3–Charlie (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Chrysoberyl (Jpn)–Gianna Schicchi, by War Front. (¥35,000,000 Fl '23 JRHAJUL). O-Masaru Shimada; B-Tsuji Bokujo; T-Takeshi Okumura; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥4,834,000.Margins: 3HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 7.80, 2.10.Also Ran: Itterasshai (Jpn), Sunrise Kevin (Jpn), Thunder Wind (Jpn), T O Kaiser (Jpn), Libeccio (Jpn), Lucky Kid (Jpn), American Style.The post Danon Bourbon Creates Tie At End Of Japan Road to the Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.