$1 million UAE Derby, March. 25, 2023 [100 qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth, and 10 for fifth] $1 million UAE Derby, March. 25, 2023 [100 qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth, and 10 for fifth] Winner: Derma Sotogake, by Mind Your Biscuits Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi Jockey: Christophe Lemaire Owner: Hiroyuki Asunama Distance / time: 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) / 1:55.81 Win margin: 5 1/2 lengths Beyer: N/A  Timeform figure: 109 This was the fastest UAE Derby since 2018, when Mendelssohn scored a front-running 18 1/2-length victory in a time of 1:55.13 and went to finish . . . 20th in the Kentucky Derby. I clearly remember doing a phone interview with Mendelssohn’s jockey, Ryan Moore, the week of the Derby and Moore saying, “I suppose that track can tell you lies,” referring to the Meydan dirt surface. Yes, it can, and I’m going to treat this performance skeptically. The field finished spread all over the track, an indication many horses failed to handle the surface and didn’t fire, and there was no passing among the first three home.   Rather than go through the trips of all 13 runners, many of whom American bettors might never see again, I’ll focus on the top three finishers, all of whom have at least a chance to run back in the Kentucky Derby, and the American horses in the race.   :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2023: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more DERMA SOTOGAKE broke alertly from the rail, was hustled to come inside CAIRO and make the lead before the first turn, then settled nicely for jockey Christophe Lemaire. His lead ebbed and flowed with DURA EREDE more stalking than pressing from second, and those two already were drawing away when they turned into the long Meydan homestretch. Derma Sotogake changed leads with just less than 400 meters to go, his ears going up as he quickened away from Dura Erede. Lemaire rode vigorously, mildly cropped his mount three time right-handed, and Derma Sotogake, doing it easily, stayed strongly through the finish. Now with four wins from eight starts, all on dirt, the last a third-place finish in the one-turn Saudi Derby, Derma Sotogake is expected to start in the Derby. I’ll be firmly against him unless the colt bowls me over with his training.  Dura Erede, a Grade 1 winner on turf in Japan, broke just all right and was sent hard to get into second before the first turn. I thought he was going along at least as well if not better than Derma Sotogake into and around the far turn, but he had no answer for Derma Sotogake at the 350-meter mark. Dura Erede was later to change leads than the winner but stayed on and clearly was second best.   CONTINUAR was among the slowest out of the gate and was hard sent to get position into the turn, ending up fifth while three or four paths wide before dropping over one path to race fourth outside Cairo down the backstretch. Continuar drew closer to the top two going into the far turn while outside them but came under heavy pressure past the three-furlong marker while Derma Sotogake and Dura Erede still were mostly in hand. Continuar changed leads just before the 300-meter mark and went evenly to the wire while still holding a clear third.  TALL BOY was one of two in the race for trainer Doug O’Neill, both horses having made one start at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Tall Boy lacked early speed, cornered poorly going into the first turn and was wide, got passed by WORCESTER midway down the backstretch and got onto that rival’s tail. He came under heavy pressure around the far turn and never came close to contending, checking in ninth. Worcester broke poorly, made a middle move to draw within striking range, but was gassed in the homestretch and wound up 11th, beaten 47 lengths. AH JEEZ, the other O’Neill runner, had a decent inside tracking spot after a half-furlong but began badly resenting the kickback going into the first turn. He was somewhat rank down he backstretch, still had the leaders within sight partway around the far turn, but stopped badly and finished last.  :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.