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Almond Eye expected to head straight to the last leg of the fillies’ Triple, the Shuka Sho, on October 14, in her bid to become the season’s triple-crown winner.
Almond Eye (JPN, F3, by Lord Kanaloa) has attracted the most attention among three-year-old males and females this season. The speedy Lord Kanaloa (JPN, by King Kamehameha) filly came off her first grade-race victory in the Shinzan Kinen (G3, 1,600m) in January and went straight into the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) three months later, where she roared through the homestretch from way behind to pull away for a 1-3/4-length victory. In the following Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m), she was quick out of the gate to run around sixth and then was uncontested once taking the front, ultimately crossing the wire in 2:23.8 over the 2,400-meter course, the race’s second-fastest time ever. Sired by internationally recognized sprinter Lord Kanaloa, who won five G1 titles at 1,200 meters as well as the Yasuda Kinen, the first crop filly brushed away concerns about longer distances and gave her sire his first Classic title. She is expected to head straight to the last leg of the fillies’ Triple, the Shuka Sho, on October 14, in her bid to become the season’s triple-crown winner.
The 2017 Best Two-Year Old Filly, Lucky Lilac (JPN, F3, by Orfevre), and Lily Noble (JPN, F3, by Rulership), who traded second and third places in the first two legs of the Triple, were both expected to make their fall debuts in the Shuka Sho. Lily Noble, however, came up with a tendon injury in her left foreleg to force a rescheduling of plans.
While the proven contenders slated for the Shuka Sho are taking their time in preparation, competition began in earnest for the remaining berths in this fillies' G1. In the Shion Stakes (G3, 2,000m) on September 8, Normcore (JPN, F3, by Harbinger) turned in an overwhelming victory after a break following a third in the Floral Stakes (G2, 2,000m) in April to allow the slow-developing filly to grow. Three lengths behind in second was Mau Lea (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact), who was third in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1,600m) as a two-year-old and fifth in both the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba. The Deep Impact filly, however, pulled up from the race with a sprained foreleg and will not be able to start in the Shuka Sho. Randonnee (USA, F3, by Blame) was another 1/2 length back in third.
Cantabile (JPN, F3, by Deep Impact ) bounced back from 13th in her previous start, the Yushun Himba, looking much better suited to the shorter distance and scoring her second grade-race title in the Rose Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on September 16. The other two top places (all three qualified for the Shuka Sho) were also dominated by two Deep Impact offspring – Salacia (JPN, F3), second by 1-1/4 lengths, and Lathyros (JPN, F3), who was another half-length behind in third.
Epoca d'Oro (JPN, C3, by Orfevre) gave a strong performance to best the three-year-old colts in the Satsuki Sho, but missed his second title when attempting a wire-to-wire victory after being pinned by Wagnerian (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact) just before the wire to finish second by half a length. The two classic winners both kicked off their fall campaigns in a Kikuka Sho trial – the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m) on September 23. Wagnerian made ground impressively from the outside after racing well off the pace early to pin down Radio Nikkei Sho (G3, 1,800m) victor Meisho Tekkon (JPN, C3, by Manhattan Cafe) and then held off a fast closing Etario (JPN, C3, by Stay Gold) for a half-length victory over the Stay Gold (JPN, by Sunday Silence) colt. Meisho Tekkon held on gamely to finish third by a head from Etario. Race favorite Epoca d'Oro stumbled out of the gate and, forced to race farther back than his usual position near the leaders, was unable to cause any serious threat in the race despite crossing the wire in fourth.
The St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m) on September 17, another trial one week before the Kikuka Sho, was won by Generale Uno (JPN, C3, by Screen Hero), who previously scored his first grade-race title in the Keisei Hai (G3, 2,000m) in January, was third in the Satsuki Sho in April but had disappointed to 16th in the following Tokyo Yushun. Leyenda (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha), the St. Lite Kinen favorite and full brother to 2017 derby winner Rey de Oro, broke from an outside draw and closed strongly from mid-field but didn't quite have enough and finished 1-1/4 lengths in second. Grail (JPN, C3, by Heart's Cry) made ground rapidly from way behind to cross the wire in third.
