Chrono Genesis Earns Spot In Breeders’ Cup Turf With Overpowering Takarazuka Kinen Victory

Sunday Racing Co.'s 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (JPN) pulled away in mid-stretch to win the US$3 million, 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka, Japan, on Sunday by a stakes-record six lengths. With her victory, Chrono Genesis, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, earned an automatic berth and fees paid into the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Chrono Genesis to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Chrono Genesis becomes the third horse to gain a free berth into the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, joining Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner Nao Da Mais (BRZ) and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) winner Lord North (IRE).

Chrono Genesis, a gray daughter of Bago (FR) out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist (JPN) claimed her second Group 1 title after taking last year's Shuka Sho, the last jewel of the fillies Triple Crown.

Trained by Takashi Saito, Chrono Genesis completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.50 over a course listed as good, as the 4-1 second choice in the 18-horse field.

Chrono Genesis, one of the only two female contenders in the race, broke smoothly out of stall 16 and settled around ninth from frontrunner Tosen Surya (JPN). Continuing to take a wide route rounding the last two turns, she advanced strongly to enter the lane in second behind 5-year-old mare Lucky Lilac (JPN), also entered by Sunday Racing.

Once assuming command 300 meters out, Chrono Genesis unleashed a powerful kick despite the somewhat soft going due to rain, leaving the field behind.

“The filly broke smoothly and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position,” said winning rider Kitamura. “I didn't really have to urge her to go but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well so I knew that she will stretch well in the lane. She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong,”

Tatsue Ishikawa's 6-year-old Kiseki (JPN) stalked Chrono Genesis from her position in the middle of the field, but could not match her rally and was the runner-up for the second consecutive year. He finished five lengths ahead of longshot Mozu Bello (JPN).

Carrot Farm's 5-2 favorite Saturnalia (JPN), the 2019 Japanese 3-year-old Male Champion, broke smoothly, hugged the rail in 10thand angled out turning the last corner for the attack but was unable to exert his strong late kick due to the soft ground, finishing fourth. He was followed by longshot Meisho Tengen (JPN) in fifth. Lucky Lilac, the nearly 5-1 third choice, could not sustain a drive in the stretch and finished sixth.

Chrono Genesis improved her record to six wins in 11 starts. She won her seasonal debut against open company in the 1 3/8-mile Kyoto Kinen (G2) over a yielding course on Feb. 16 before finishing second to Lucky Lilac in the 1 1/4-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 5.

Chrono Genesis becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winner in Japan this year. The 6-year-old Mozu Ascot was the first automatic qualifier, winning the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23, and earned an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The 5-year-old mare Almond Eye (JPN) won the Victoria Mile (G1) on May 17 and secured a free starting position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria (JPN) took the Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 7 and a “Win and You're In” spot for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

 

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Back To Two Turns, Galilean Wins Soi Phet Stakes At Los Alamitos

A stretch to two turns and a return to Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif., proved the winning moves for Galilean as he rolled to an easy victory in the $101,500 Soi Phet Stakes on Saturday.

Trained by John Sadler for West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, the 4-year-old stalked the early pace from his outside post, then powered away in the final quarter of a mile to win by four lengths under jockey Juan Hernandez.

The score in 1:35.49 for the mile was the first for the son of Uncle Mo and the El Prado mare Fresia since he captured the California Cup Derby Feb. 18, 2019, at Santa Anita when trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer.

He's now 4-for-9 lifetime with earnings of $442,948. Three of those victories – in as many starts – have come at Los Alamitos. Galilean captured the Barretts Juvenile in his career debut here Sept. 22, 2018, then won the King Glorious – at the Soi Phet distance – by nine lengths nearly three months later.

The even-money favorite against seven other horses bred or sired in California, Galilean paid $4, $3.40 and $3.

Grinning Tiger, fresh off a 92-1 upset in the Crystal Water Stakes on turf three weeks earlier, finished a head in front of 18-1 outsider Brandothebartender to complete the exacta. Dismissed at 12-1 Saturday, Grinning Tiger returned $8.20 and $5 while the show price on Brandothebartender was $4.60.

Completing the order of finish were Loud Mouth, King Abner, the 5-2 second choice, pacesetter Take the One O One, Lymebyrd and Three Ay Em.

“I talked to (Sadler) this morning and he told me to try and sit just outside the speed,'' said Hernandez after his first Los Alamitos stakes success. “This horse relaxed perfectly and I wanted to wait until the stretch to make a move and he exploded when I asked him. He was lugging in some, but I corrected him and he was very strong at the end.''

Alex Bisono, an assistant to Sadler, thinks the stretch to eight furlongs was crucial for Galilean.

“I definitely think he's a better two turn horse,'' he said. “He likes this track. He was comfortable the whole way. I wish he had run a little bit straighter down the stretch, but he didn't bother anybody because he was clear.''

Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.

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‘Just An Amazing Mare,’ Midnight Bisou Wins Fleur De Lis In A Laugher

Midnight Bisou, the 2019 Champion Older Dirt Female by Midnight Lute, proved her class was undeniable when she powered past speedy pacesetter and last year's Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress leaving the far turn and easily drew away in the stretch for a widening 8 1/4-length win over Motion Emotion in Saturday's 45th running of the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (Grade II) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Under the care of Hall of Fame duo trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Mike Smith, Midnight Bisou ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.99. By winning the Fleur de Lis, she secured a “Win and You're In” berth to the $2-million Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. But will she run in the Distaff or Breeders' Cup Classic against open company?

Earlier this year on Feb. 29, Midnight Bisou was beaten just three-quarters of a length by Maximum Security in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup, which featured a field of 14 at 1 1/8 miles in the world's richest horse race at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

“She's a really special mare,” said Asmussen, who won four races Saturday to take a 746-to-742 lead over Dale Romans for most wins by a trainer at Churchill Downs in the track's storied history. “To come back, in that sort of style, is just tremendous. She has such an amazing talent and such a great relationship with Mike. She beat a wonderful-looking group of mares. We have nothing but respect towards them.”

Serengeti Empress, as expected, dictated the pace in the field of seven fillies and mares through swift fractions of :23.18, :46.15 and 1:09.74. She widened to a three-length advantage nearing the far turn but champion Midnight Bisou had her in sight throughout. The winner began to move near the five-sixteenths pole with a three-wide move, easily took command at the top of the lane and drew off in the stretch under a complete hand ride.

“She's just an amazing mare,” Smith said. “I actually had took the lead a little before I wanted to. We were planning on laying a little bit closer but the way Serengeti Empress was winging it on the front end we were a little further back. She's just incredibly special.”

Midnight Bisou, the 1-2 favorite in the wagering, paid $3, $2.60 and $2.10. Motion Emotion, with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, paid $10.20 and $5.20. Another Broad, ridden by John Velazquez. finished third another 1 ½ lengths back of the runner-up and returned $5.

Serengeti Empress, Red Dane (ITY), Go Google Yourself and Chocolate Kisses rounded out the field.

Midnight Bisou improved her record to 21-13-5-3 boosting her career earnings of a whopping $7,371,520. She was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds.

 

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Harvey’s Lil Goil Ekes Out Regret Win Over Crystal Cliffs

Harvey's Lil Goil was able to hold off the late surge of Crystal Cliffs (FR) to win Saturday's 51strunning of the $100,000 Regret (Grade III) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Martin Garcia, Harvey's Lil Goil covered the 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:47.70.

In the early stages of the race, 17-1 longshot Eve of War took command of the field of 13 three-year-old fillies through opening fractions of :23.26 and :47.48. Harvey's Lil Goil tracked just off the pace of Eve of War on the outside of In Good Spirits. Harvey's Lil Goil took control of the lead at the head of the stretch following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.80 but had to fend off the late charge of 6-5 favorite Crystal Cliffs.

Just outside of the sixteenth-pole, Crystal Cliffs, under John Velazquez, dove to the inside rail past the tiring Eve of War but just missed getting to Harvey's Lil Goil by a head at the wire.

“I thought we were in a little bit of trouble when Johnny dove to the rail,” Mott's assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy said. “However, when she got to her late in the stretch, she was able to fight back.”

Harvey's Lil Goil rewarded her backers with payouts of $24.20, $7.60 and $5.40. Crystal Cliffs returned $3.20 and $3 and In Good Spirits paid $6.20.

With her victory in the Regret, Harvey's Lil Goil boosted her career earnings to $154,529. The homebred-daughter of American Pharoah sports an overall record of 5-3-0-0. She races for the estate of her breeder, Harvey Clarke, and Paul Braverman.

Pass the Plate, Dominga, Stunning Sky, Hendy Woods, Micheline, Eve of War, Wexx, Edgee Angel, Witez and His Glory completed the order of finish.

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