By Alan Carasso
Carrying the famed colors of Deep Impact (Jpn)'s owner Makoto Kaneko, Yuttitham (Jpn) became the first Japanese stakes winner for Coolmore America's Triple Crown winner Justify with a narrow victory in Saturday's $298,147 Listed Oasis S. going a one-turn mile on the dirt track at Tokyo Racecourse.
The fourth betting choice at just over 5-1, the 4-year-old was one of the first to break the line from post position 16 and raced in a share of third while deep on the track down the back straight. Traveling well in hand three deep passing the 600-meter marker, Yuttitham was held together into the homestretch, but was asked to quicken when Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes)–a two-time course-and-distance stakes winner–rolled up to his immediate outside with a menacing bid of his own.
But Yuttitham would have none of it, as he boxed on tenaciously from between horses to lead with a bit less than a furlong to race and managed to keep his head in front on the line. Third home was Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), the beaten favorite in the G1 February S. at headquarters two months back.
Shadai Farm acquired Yuttitham's dam, 2017 GI First Lady S. heroine Zipessa (City Zip), for $1.25 million in foal to Medaglia d'Oro at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, but this colt is the mare's first listed produce. Shadai immediately recouped their outlay when Yuttitham was knocked down to Kaneko for ¥200 million ($1,815,520) at the 2021 JRHA Select Yearling Sale, and Kaneko went back to the well the following summer, purchasing Zipessa's colt by Isla Bonita (Jpn) for ¥76 million ($558,835). Pakarang, a debut fifth to GI Kentucky Derby hopeful T O Password (Jpn) (Copano Rickey {Jpn}) in January, most recently broke his maiden at third asking at Hanshin Mar. 17. Zipessa is also the dam of the 2-year-old filly Rapid Growth (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), a yearling filly by the outstanding Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and was due to Orfevre (Jpn) for 2024.
Yuttitham is the 27th worldwide stakes winners for Justify and is one of his 14 Japanese winners, a number that also includes the 4-year-old filly Awesome Result, unbeaten in her five racetrack appearances to date. Yuttitham has a record of 4-1-1 from eight starts and earnings of about $478,000.
(L) Listed 1600m $460k Oasis Stakes at Tokyo:
Won by 4h 16. YUTTITHAM (Justify x Zipessa 🇺🇸 (City Zip) under Daisuke Sasaki
Just beat 4c 13. PERRIERE (Henny Hughes)
YUTTITHAM now win 4 from 8, first Listed win for him and his sire JUSTIFY 🇺🇸 in Japan
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) April 20, 2024
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