Deep Impact colt Satono Ares captured this year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to become the season’s two-year-old champion colt. Runner-up in his first two starts in August, the dark bay promptly broke his maiden in his third start in September, marked another win in the Begonia Sho (Tokyo Racecourse, 1,600m) in November and extended his winning streak to three in his first grade-race challenge. He is the third colt that came off a win in the Begonia Sho to win this race in the past five years, the first two being Logotype in 2012 and Danon Platina in 2014. Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa registered his 24th JRA-G1 title following the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies with Soul Stirring just last week and became the first trainer to capture both two-year-old G1 titles in the same year. Veteran jockey Hirofumi Shii marked his 15th JRA-G1 victory following the 2010 Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Kinshasa no Kiseki.
Satono Ares broke smoothly from stall 17 and settled toward the back of the field, around sixth from the rear. Gradually making headway circling wide around the corners, the dark bay colt produced a powerful turn of speed after entering the homestretch, passing tiring rivals from the outside with the second fastest final three-furlong time, nailed the front 100 meters out and further accelerated while holding off the strong challenge by Monde Can Know for his first G1 victory.
“I rode him for the first time but was told by the trainer that he has a strong late charge. So I decided to race him toward the rear and he responded really well in the stretch. I think his strong point is indeed his turn of foot. I think he will definitely be able to aim for the big titles going forward,” commented Hirofumi Shii.
Seventh choice Monde Can Know was rated fourth from the rear, surged out behind Satono Ares when facing the homestretch and threatened the winner with his explosive late drive that timed the fastest of the field to cross the wire half a length behind in second.
Twelfth pick Bom Servico, rushing out from stall four, immediately took command to set the pace and continued to run persistently in the stretch. Though overtaken by the first two finishers in the last 100 meters, the Daiwa Major colt managed to fend off Mi Suerte to come in third.
Mi Suerte traveled in mid-division, around seventh from the front, and demonstrated an impressive late charge in the lane but was a head short of nailing Bom Servico to finish fourth.
Other Horses:
5th: (18) Trust—chased leaders in 2nd from widest stall, held well until 100m out, outrun thereafter
6th: (11) Trillionaire—settled in mid-pack, turned behind favorite, quickened in last 200m
7th: (6) Clear the Track—stalked leaders in 3rd, sustained bid until 100m out then weakened
8th: (15) Red en Ciel—advanced to 5th from wide draw, found little room 300m out, even paced
9th: (16) America’s Cup—slow break, took wide trip in mid-group, ran gamely until furlong pole
10th: (7) Bee Kali—rated in mid-division, met traffic at top of stretch then accelerated
11th: (9) Daiichi Terminal—eased back to near rear, angled out, improved position at stretch
12th: (2) Ashaka Lien—trailed in rear, switched to outside for clear path after final corner, passed tired rivals
13th: (8) Danburite—raced in mid-pack, boxed in at early stretch, showed brief effort in last 200m
14th: (5) Tagano Asura—sat toward rear, found little room at top of stretch, never fired
15th: (12) Toho Domingo—broke poorly, ran near rear, turned wide, unable to reach contention
16th: (3) Links Zero—saved ground in mid-group, checked at early stretch, never a threat
17th: (1) Levante Lion—tracked leaders in 3rd or 4th, failed to respond and outrun after 300m out
18th: (14) Bullbear Baboon—traveled in mid-division, advanced before 3rd corner but no factor
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