Kazuo Yokoyama

Looking for his first Group 1 tally following a productive second-place effort in the Feb. 11 G2 Kyoto Kinen, Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) got up in time to land Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. A winner in last season's 1800-meter Spring S., he was a well beaten 10th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 meters. He concluded his 3-year-old season with a victory in Hanshin's G3 Challenge Cup in December. Breaking sharply...

Fresh off an Aug. 20 newcomers' victory going 1500 metres at Sapporo, Dolce More (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) subdued longtime leader Granite (Jpn) (Danon Ballad {Jpn}) to take the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo on Saturday. Sent off as the 5-1 second choice, the colt settled in an ideal perch, as 39-1 longshot Granite ran off and hid from the field, spotting them at least 10 lengths. However, his lead began to look shaky with 400 metres remaining, and Dolce More was gaining on his erstwhile rival with every...

Classic hero Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) secured the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in wire-to-wire fashion at Hanshin on Sunday. The first winner to make all of the running since Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in 2016, Titleholder was followed home by multiple group winner Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who was second in 2021, as well. The progressive G3 Diamond S. winner T O Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) ran third. Second choice in the wagering at 7-2 behind the even-money pick Deep Bond who also won the G2...