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Justin Milano wins this year’s Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama.
Second favorite Justin Milano claimed the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), in 1:57.1, updating the course record by 0.7 seconds, and extended his winning streak since his debut to three. He is the second colt to win the race in just three career starts following last year's winner, Sol Oriens. The son of Kizuna won his debut race (Tokyo, 2,000m) in last November and captured his first graded title in the previous Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m) on February 11 under Keita Tosaki. This win marked trainer Yasuo Tomomichi's 19th JRA-G1 title following last year's Arima Kinen with Do Deuce and his second Satsuki Sho title following 2009 with Unrivaled. For jockey Keita Tosaki, this win marked his 12th JRA-G1 win following the Yasuda Kinen with Songline last year and his second Satsuki Sho win following 2018 with Epoca d'Oro.
Quick out of the gate, Justin Milano rushed out of stall 13 to settle fifth from frontrunner Meisho Tabaru who set an extremely fast pace. The son of Kizuna shifted slightly to the outside rounding the final corners, surged out behind Jantar Mantar after entering the lane and unleashed an explosive turn of speed to overtake the dark bay in the last two strides and cross the wire a neck in front.
"Given the condition of the track, I thought that it would be better to race toward the front. He broke well and we were able to settle in that position naturally. The pace was fast but Justin Milano ran in his own rhythm. His response weakened a bit at the third corner but he regained his focus after the fourth corner and stretched well to win the race. He's a smart horse with a lot of potential. He's easy to ride, and I think he can handle the longer distance," commented Keita Tosaki.
Seventh pick Cosmo Kuranda saved ground around 10th, angled out turning the last two corners, launched the fourth fastest late drive to join the rally for the lead and, while overtaking Jantar Mantar before the wire, failed to catch Justin Milano to finish second.
Breaking sharply, third choice Jantar Mantar eased back to third after rallying for the lead, closed in on the leader in the final corners, inherited the lead at the top of the stretch and sustained the bid but weakened in the final strides to be overtaken by the eventual winner and then the runner-up before the wire.
Race favorite Regaleira was rated toward the rear, around 14th, and although turning in the fastest speed over the last three furlongs, was too far back to threaten the leaders and finished sixth.
Other Horses:
4th: (9) Urban Chic—ran in 13th, circled wide for stretch run, showed third fastest late charge
5th: (14) Shin Emperor—raced wide in 8th, chased winner, failed to keep up in last 200m
7th: (3) Ecoro Walz—trailed in rear, launched fastest late kick between horses
8th: (7) Lucullan Feast—hugged rails around 11th, lacked needed kick
9th: (1) Sunrise Zipangu—took economic trip in 7th, responded until 100m out
10th: (5) Mr G T—settled around 5th inside eventual winner, showed effort until 100m out
11th: (11) Ho O Purosangue—positioned in 10th, even paced
12th: (15) Sunrise Earth—sat wide around 11th, drifted outside at final corner, unable to reach
contention
13th: (17) Byzantine Dream—broke poorly, raced near rear, checked at final corner, never
threatened
14th: (4) Sirius Colt—chased pace in 2nd, remained in contention up to 200m pole
15th: (6) Allegro Brillante—tracked leader around 4th, outrun after final corner
16th: (18) Water Licht—traveled 3-wide around 14th, never fired
17th: (2) Meisho Tabaru—set fast pace, faded after top of stretch
Excluded from Running:
(16) Danon Decile—lameness in his right foreleg