Overseas challenges by JRA horses got off to a good start in 2019.

Master Fencer’s valiant American swing came to a rather unspectacular end with a 13th-place finish in the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational on Saturday.

Japanese glory in the American Triple Crown will have to wait for another day as the Koichi Tsunoda-trained Master Fencer finished fifth in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday evening.