By Alan Carasso
For the first time in the relatively brief history of the races, the G3 OBS Korea Cup and G3 OBS Korea Sprint were welcomed into the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, offering the winners a free ride into the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, respectively. And for the first time, the races' defending champions each returned to Seoul to win for the second year in succession, stamping themselves as legitimate contenders at Del Mar, if connections indeed make the trip over.
Teruya Yoshida's Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}), the 2022 G3 UAE Derby winner and a participant in that year's GI Kentucky Derby, took the 2023 Korea Cup by 10 lengths over Gloria Mundi (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), but was nevertheless the 21-10 second-elect Sunday behind his compatriot Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March and was 1-2 on Sunday.
Ridden for speed from gate 11 by Takeshi Yokoyama, Crown Pride controlled the pace through the opening 1200 meters in 1:14.4 over the deep and sandy surface and never looked like losing as Wilson Tesoro gave vain chase through the final stages. Korea's Global Hit (Kor) (To Honor and Serve), eighth as a 3-year-old last year, finished a meritorious third, albeit by double digits.
Japanese horses completed the Korea Cup exacta for the fourth time since the race was first run back in 2016 and Crown Pride is the second back-to-back winner, joining London Town (Jpn) (Kane Hekili {Jpn}) in 2017-2018.
“First of all, I was happy to be asked to ride, and since he is a strong horse, I am glad that I was able to achieve this result,” Yokoyama told Netkeiba. “I was trying to take care of the rhythm of this horse, so I was in that position as a result of going smoothly. It was a good day.”
Koji Maeda's Remake (Jpn) (Lani) was back on his travels Sunday, having defeated the very talented Skelly (Practical Joke) in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February ahead of a fourth behind the impressive Tuz (Oxbow) when last spotted in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 30. The homebred was pounded into 20 cents on the dollar as the clear class of the Korea Sprint and settled about midfield as the well-traveled Jasper Krone (Frosted) took outside pressure from the Doug O'Neill-trained and Edwin Maldonado-ridden Anarchist (Distorted Humor). Jasper Krone got the better of the pace battle and led into the final 200 meters, but Yuga Kawada had Remake in top gear by that time and they motored by to score with something left.
“Since last year, we have spent a year trying to challenge for the Breeders' Cup, so I hope that we could win this, return to Japan, and prepare again for the United States, so that we can safely earn the right and compete well in the Breeders' Cup,” Kawada told Netkeiba.
Sunday, Seoul, South Korea
OBS KOREA CUP-G3, ₩1,600,000,000 ($1,193,760), Seoul, 9-8, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:51.8, gd.
1–CROWN PRIDE (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Reach the Crown (Jpn)
1st Dam: Emmy's Pride (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Emmy's Smile (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Hemisphere (Jpn), by White Muzzle (GB)
O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Takeshi Yokoyama; ₩800,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, SW & G1SP-Jpn, 17-6-4-0, $4,717,180. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Chesutoke Rose, by Uncle Mo. O-Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co Ltd; B-Ryoken Farm; T-Hitoshi Kotegawa; J-Yuga Kawada; ₩320,000,000.
3–Global Hit (Kor), 126, c, 4, To Honor and Serve–Tammy's Victress, by Yankee Victor. O-Kim Joon Hyun; B-Yeonhak Yeongnong Johabbeopin; T-Bang Dong Suk; J-Kim Hye Sun; ₩160,000,000.
Margins: 5, 5, 3. Odds: 2.10, 0.50, 12.20.
Also Ran: Light Warrior (Jpn), Galaxy Road (Kor), Simjangui Godong (Kor), Montauk Chat, Vics Go (Kor), Heuk Jeonsa (Kor), Winner's Man (Kor). DNF: Success Macho (Kor). Click for the KRA chart (R7).
Sunday, Seoul, South Korea
OBS KOREA SPRINT-G3, ₩1,400,000,000 ($1,044,540), Seoul, 9-8, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10.3, gd.
1–REMAKE (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Lani
1st Dam: Sariel (Jpn) (GSP-Jpn, $888,410), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shinko Nobby, by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Christabelle, by Northern Dancer
O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Yuga Kawada; ₩700,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn & KSA, 18-9-3-2, $3,600,814. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jasper Krone, 126, h, 5, Frosted–Fancy Kitten, by Kitten's Joy. ($25,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Kazuo Kato; B-Machmer Hall & Godolphin (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori; J-Taisei Danno; ₩280,000,000.
3–Anarchist, 126, h, 5, Distorted Humor–Vicarious Won, by Elusive Quality. ($75,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Ilium Stables LLC; B-Centaur Farms Inc (KY); T-Doug O'Neill; J-Edwin Maldonado; ₩140,000,000.
Margins: 2, 6, HF. Odds: 0.20, 13.90, 8.60.
Also Ran: Speed Young (Kor), Something Lost (Kor), Vincero Cavallo (Kor), Gangseo Giant, Morfhis, Black Musk, Daemangui Gil (Kor), Eoma Eoma, Daehan Jilju (Kor), Beolmaui Star (Kor), Yes Perfect, Raon the Point (Kor). Scratched: Keiai Dorie (Jpn). Click for the KRA chart (R6).
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