14 July, 2020
The JRA extended their operations behind closed doors for the fourth month to cover the entire month of June.
On June 6th, the 2000m G3 Naruo Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse 2019 G1 Japanese Oaks winner Loves Only You(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was looking for a softball win but came up ahead bob short. This was the first time in open company at the graded stakes level, so, understandably, the filly might be coming up against a new level of competition given her previous start against all females in the G1 Victoria Mile that ended in a seventh place. She was the post-time favorite and positioned her self well, stalking the pace. Loves Only You(JPN) came wide when G2 winner Perform a Promise(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) came off the rail. The two dueled for most of the straight with the eight-year-old horse having a neck advantage on her till the final few strides when the filly found a new gear. They hit the wire together in a photo finish, but the bobs of the heads gave the photo to the tenth favorite Perform a Promise(JPN). It was his first race since sustaining an injury in the middle of 2019, and he made up for the lost time. Red Genial(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) was a half-length back in third.
On June 7th, the 1600m G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse proved yet again to be one of the most competitive races in Japan with ten G1 winners in the 14 horse field. The race turned into a semi-repeat of last year when the favorite Champion Almond Eye(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) was off at the start, though this year, the fault was all her own. This put the post-time favorite at a disadvantage that she was unable to come back from the beginning and saw ended with a disappointing second-place finish. The day went to another impressive filly, Gran Alegria(JPN), already a G1 winner over a mile in the 2019 G1 Oka Sho, where the daughter of Deep Impact(JPN) broke Almond Eye(JPN)'s record in the race. The bay filly sat just off mid-pack during the early stages of the race and launched into high gear in the stretch, putting distance between her and the rest of the field, allowing her to win by a comfortable margin of two and a half lengths. Last year's Yasuda Kinen hero, Indy Champ(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN), who had been near the winner most of the race, got up to finish third, half a length behind Almond Eye(JPN). While Almond Eye(JPN) earned a berth in the G1 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the United States at Keeneland Racecourse in November, with a victory in the Yasuda Kinen, Gran Alegria(JPN) earned automatic entry into the G1 Breeders Cup Mile. Her dam two time G1 winner Tapitsfly(USA) by Tapit(USA) won the 2009 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
On June 14th, the 1800m G3 Epsom Cup at Tokyo Racecourse, there was a little sign from heaven when Daiwa Cagney(JPN) by King Kamehameha(JPN) captured his first graded stakes victory of his career the weekend after the passing of his owner Keizo Oshiro. Mr. Oshiro had passed away at the age of 96 a few days prior after a many decade long stint as one of Japan's most prolific owners having campaigned greats like Daiwa Major(JPN) and Daiwa Scarlet(JPN). Daiwa Cagney(JPN) broke sharply, stalking the pacesetter throughout then took control near the 200m to win by a solid length and a half. Fellow six-year-old So Glittering(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN) was second, and Taurus Gemini(JPN) by King's Best(USA) was a nose back in third.
Also on June 14th, the 2000m G3 Mermaid Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse was a graded stakes for only fillies and mares. It was upset by the seventh favorite Summer Scent(JPN) by Harbinger(GB), who seemed to appreciate the give on the Good turf course to capture her first graded stakes win. The four-year-old filly stalked the pace in second position throughout but had to fight for the lead up to the final furlong against the pacesetter. Once clear, she held off a fast closing Centelleo(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) to win by three-fourths of a length. Lune Rouge(JPN) by Monterosso(GB) was a further length and a quarter back in third.
On June 21st, the 1600m G3 Unicorn Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse was the only dirt race of June in the JRA. Due to the movement of the G1 Kentucky Derby from May to September, it was added to the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby a month earlier, giving 40 points to the winner towards a chance at competing in the most famous dirt race on earth. The overwhelming favorite was Cafe Pharoah(USA), who broke from the far outside gate. That had little effect at hampering his dominating performance as he broke sharp and got up to a good position off the pace. The son of American Triple Crown hero American Pharoah(USA) drew away from the field to win by an overpowering five lengths. Along with the points he gained in the Hyacinth Stakes back in February, the colt now has 70 points towards the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and is the undisputed point leader. Dieu du Vin(JPN) by Declaration of War(USA) was second, and along with his win in the first Road to the Kentucky Derby race, the Cattleya Sho back in November, he now has 26 points. Kenshinko(JPN) by Pyro(USA) was a length and a three quarters back in third.
Also on June 21st, the 1200m G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes at Hakodate Racecourse was the first graded stakes race of the Hokkaido track's summer meet. Heavily favored Diatonic(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) rewarded his backers by winning by clear two lengths over pacesetter Daimei Fuji(JPN) by Agnes Digital(USA) despite carrying the highest weight in the field. The five-year-old colt sat in second position behind Daimei Fuji(JPN) and sprinted clear of him with about a furlong to go. Jo Mandheling(JPN) by Jo Cappuccino(JPN) was a half-length back in third.
On June 28th, the 2200m G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse was the final G1 of the first half of 2020. All but one of the year's G1 events have been held behind closed doors. Despite some big names like Almond Eye(JPN) and the talented three-year-old crop skipping the race, the race was full of well known and established runners. For many, it was being billed as Lucky Lilac(JPN) by Orfevre(JPN) versus Saturnalia(JPN) by Lord Kanaloa(JPN) leading up the race. Heavy rain, however, brought others to mind since neither had shown a liking to soft ground. The ground might have been a critical factor in the results, having taken some of the popular runners out of the race, but Chrono Genesis(JPN) the four-year-old daughter of Bago(FR) dominated her G1 winning peers so astoundingly, that it is likely firmer ground would have only shortened her margin of victory. The grey filly, already a G1 winner in female company, had proven game enough against the colts when she won the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February and was second in the G1 Osaka Hai in April. She broke well and sat mid-pack throughout the race, positioning herself to strike when the time was right. She launched into such a powerful closing stride she pulled clear from the pack by a dominant six lengths. Kiseki(JPN) by Rulership(JPN) was second just like last year, and Mozu Bello(JPN) by Deep Brillante(JPN) was another five lengths back in third. If travel is possible this fall, Chrono Genesis(JPN) would have her pick of two major international races, the G1 Breeders Cup Turf in the United States at Keeneland Racecourse or the G1 Cox Plate in Australia at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Australia. The later was the choice of last year's Takarazuka Kinen winner Lys Gracieux(JPN) by Heart's Cry(JPN), and she won it.
All JRA graded stakes results and race replays are available on Japan Association for International Racing, and Stud Book (JAIRS)'s website: http://japanracing.jp/.
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