By Alan Carasso
In the last two years in particular, the $468,241 Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun–the second of four legs on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby–has been won by horses that went on to become significant players on the world stage.
The 2022 renewal was taken by Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), subsequent winner of the G2 UAE Derby, a participant in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby and cracking second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at season's end. Last year's running was won by Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), victorious in the 3-year-old features in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, third in the Derby before closing the year with a good third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
For the first time since the Speightstown filly Rieno Tesoro accomplished the feat back in 2016, a filly took down the colors of her male counterparts, as Myriad Love (Jpn)–a daughter of the expatriated 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile upsetter New Year's Day–proved narrowly best to remain perfect in three trips to the races.
Away alertly from gate 10, Myriad Love dueled outside of a rival passing under the line for the first time, but was content to allow Carrot Farm's Holy Grail (Jpn) (Nadal), the field's other filly, to take up the running into the first turn. Chasing from second down the back of the track, Myriad Love was sent into the lead midway on the second turn and about 400 meters from home and held sway late to deny Happy Man (Jpn) (Danon Legend) and Ryusei Sakai, who was aboard Forever Young last year. Soldier Field (Jpn) (Le Vent Se Leve {Jpn}), whose sire won this in 2017, won a photo for third over odds-on Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), last-out winner of the first leg in the series, the Cattleya Stakes (allowance) at Tokyo Nov. 23.
A maiden winner at first asking over seven furlongs at Chukyo Sept. 16, Myriad Love was exiting a facile success in the Listed Edelweiss Sho at Mombetsu Oct. 31.
One of two stakes winners for New Year's Day, Myriad Love is out of a half-sister to One Millionth (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), a two-time listed winner on the tracks of the National Association of Racing. Third dam Difficult produced G1 February Stakes hero Testa Matta (Tapit), now a productive sire in Korea.
With the victory, Myriad Love picks up 20 points and assumes the top spot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. If she were to win the series, which continues with the Hyacinth Stakes in February and the Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) in March, ownership may opt to instead use the automatic invitation to run in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks.
Wednesday's Results:
ZEN-NIPPON NISAI YUSHUN (Jpn-G1)-Listed, ¥71,400,000 ($468,241), Kawasaki, 12-11, 2yo, 1600m, 1:42.40, gd.
1–MYRIAD LOVE (JPN), 121, f, 2, by New Year's Day
1st Dam: Ladybird (Jpn), by Smart Falcon (Jpn)
2nd Dam: She's Impossible, by Yankee Victor
3rd Dam: Difficult, by Concern
(¥27,000,000 Ylg '23 JRHAJUL). O-Asuka Shiraishi; B-Northern Farm; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Atsuya Nishimura; ¥42,000,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $452,576. *1/2 to Steelblue (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), GSP-Jpn, $230,889.
2–Happy Man (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Danon Legend –Belle Mure (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Shigehisa Tanabe; B-Kuwata Bokujo; T-Ryo Terashima; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥14,700,000.
3–Soldier Field (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Le Vent Se Leve (Jpn)–I'll Go Back (Jpn), by Ammirare (Jpn). (¥8,250,000 Ylg '23 JBBAUG). O-Honjo Inc; B-Good Luck Farm; T-Hiroto Kawashima; J-Fuma Ono; ¥8,400,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NO. Odds: 4.60, 7.30, 11.90. Click for the goracing.jp chart.
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