Fifth favorite Wagnerian demonstrated a strong stretch drive to dominate this year’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). As a two-year-old, Wagnerian registered three wins out of the same starts including his Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) win at the end of his debut season. After a runner-up effort in his first three-year-old campaign start, the Yayoi Sho (G2, 2,000m), he was sent off odds-on favorite in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) where the somewhat soft track did not suit him, hindering his good turn of foot to finish seventh. His owner Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., Ltd. broke a new record by becoming the owner of four Derby winners—King Kamehameha (2004), Deep Impact (2005) and Makahiki (2016). Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has now won JRA-G1 races no fewer than nine times and this is his second Tokyo Yushun title—he celebrated his first with Makahiki in 2016. Since his Shuka Sho victory with Vivlos in 2016, this is jockey Yuichi Fukunaga’s 21st JRA-G1 win and much-awaited first Tokyo Yushun title in his 19th attempt.
Breaking from a wide stall, Wagnerian was hustled up early to race in sixth to seventh and three-wide while cruising down the backstretch a few lengths behind race favorite Danon Premium and outside of second pick Blast Onepiece. The bay colt kicked into gear rounding the last turn, was third at the foot of the hill and with great force, gained on the dueling two in the last furlong first catching Cosmic Force 100 meters out and then Epoca d’Oro another 50 meters later to win by half a length.
“The staff did a terrific job in preparing the colt and he just gave his best. I just drove him feverishly to the line. I’ve won G1 races in Tokyo before, but to win the Derby is totally a different story. I was beginning to have doubts after having so many chances, but thanks to the support of my family and so many others, I’m thrilled to have won at last,” commented Yuichi Fukunaga after the race.
Fourth favorite Epoca d’Oro was rushed to the front to take the lead by the initial turn and set the pace almost all the way. With a fleeting glimpse of double-crown glory, the Satsuki Sho winner dug in gamely to the line while withstanding the hard-charging Cosmic Force but was unable to do the same with the winner and finished second.
Longshot Cosmic Force was positioned in fourth outside the favorite, made headway before the last corner and entered the stretch a half-length from Epoca d’Oro in second. The King Kamehameha colt dueled for the lead but tired 100 meters out and was a neck late from the runner-up in third.
First choice Danon Premium, who was unable to start in the Satsuki Sho due to a right foreleg injury, traveled in third to fourth hugging the rails, chased the leaders in the stretch staying in close contention but was tagged before the wire to finish sixth.
Other Horses:
4th: (14) Etario―traveled near rear, showed 2nd fastest late drive between horses
5th: (8) Blast Onepiece―ran inside eventual winner, met traffic at early stretch, switched to outside, accelerated
7th: (6) Go for the Summit―sat in mid-group, ran gamely until 200m pole, weakened thereafter
8th: (15) Stelvio―settled towards rear, turned wide, quickened until 100m marker
9th: (4) Admire Alba―trailed in rear, fastest over last 3 furlongs, was too late
10th: (10) Stay Foolish―traveled wide in mid-division, passed tired rivals at stretch
11th: (2) Time Flyer―took economic trip in mid-pack, switched to outside at early stretch, showed little
12th: (5) Kitano Commandeur―hugged rails near rear, turned wide to lane, failed to respond
13th: (18) Sans Rival―positioned wide in mid-group, checked twice at stretch, unable to reach contention
14th: (13) Grail―ran wide towards rear, even paced at stretch
15th: (9) Oken Moon―traveled back in mid-division, lacked needed kick at stretch
16th: (16) Generale Uno―chased leader in 2nd, checked 400m out, lost momentum
17th: (11) Gendarme―saved ground towards rear, never fired at stretch
18th: (3) T O Energy―raced inside eventual winner, faded at stretch
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