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Sodashi wins this year’s Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin.
Race favorite Sodashi extended her unbeaten record to four by winning this year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in a nail-biting photo-finish and has become the first white horse to claim a JRA-G1 race. Sired by Kurofune (gray) and out of Buchiko (white), the filly immediately broke her maiden in July and went on to sweep two graded races, the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m) in September and the Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m) the next month. Following the triumphs in the 2012 and 2013 versions with Robe Tissage and Red Reveur, respectively, this is trainer Naosuke Sugai's third Hanshin Juvenile Fillies title, his 12th JRA-G1 title overall and his first since the 2017 Victoria Mile with Admire Lead. Jockey Hayato Yoshida has now captured his second JRA-G1 victory following his 2015 Arima Kinen win with Gold Actor.
The race commenced on the backstretch of the Hanshin course as Sodashi, after a bit reluctant to enter the gate, made a clear break settling in fourth to fifth and two-wide while Yoka Yoka set a moderate pace five to six lengths in front. After chasing the front runners into the straight, the white filly secured a good path 300 meters out and powered home, picking off the tired pace setter running the rails while Satono Reinas loomed up in between in the last 50 meters, but repelled the determined challenge in a stirring duel to the wire to win her first G1 title by a whisker.
"Going into the race as favorite was a bit of a load, but I'm thrilled with the outcome. She hated to even go near the gate but I'm relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped. The going affected her good turn of foot but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year's classics," commented jockey Hayato Yoshida after the race.
Second favorite Satono Reinas kept a bullseye on the favorite through the early going traveling a couple of lengths behind in mid-pack. The Deep Impact filly, under jockey Christophe Lemaire, chased the eventual winner down the stretch displaying a late but resounding finishing kick in the last 100 meters but was a slim nose short in second.
Gold Ship filly Uberleben settled three-wide in 14th to 15th, circled wide at the final corner, closed strongly with the fastest late drive and while too late to threaten the winner, dug in well to pin third favorite Meikei Yell in the final strides for a neck third.
Other Horses:
4th: (18) Meikei Yell - was off slow, made headway on outer route, rallied for lead, weakened in final strides
5th: (8) Yoka Yoka - set pace, led until overtaken by top finishers, held off rest of field
6th: (12) Opal Moon - sat around 15th, angled out, accelerated in last 300m but never threatened
7th: (3) Geraldina - trailed in rear, turned wide and showed belated charge
8th: (5) Salvia - chased leaders around 3rd along rails, showed effort until 200m marker, even paced thereafter
9th: (13) Aoi Gold - settled 3-wide around 9th, ran willingly, failed to sustain bid in last 200m
10th: (2) Luxon - hugged rails around 15th, angled out, passed tired rivals between horses
11th: (15) A Shin Hiten - tracked leaders around 3rd, showed tenacity until 200m pole, weakened
12th: (4) Ringoame - saved ground around 8th, lacked needed kick at stretch
13th: (1) Win Aglaia - took economic trip around 12th, showed brief effort, even paced in last 200m
14th: (16) Infinite - sat 4-wide outside winner, turned into lane in good striking position, outrun in last 300m
15th: (9) Namura Meter - ran around 9th, never fired at stretch
16th: (17) Hula Liona - raced in 14th, found little room at early stretch, unable to reach contention
17th: (10) Shigeru Pink Ruby - traveled around 5th near winner, faded after final corner
18th: (14) Paul Neyron - pressed pace in second, keen to go, used up 300m out
