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Godolphin Homebred ‘Bursts’ Into Derby Discussion in Japan

Cleverly named Godolphin homebred Combustion (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) shot to the head of the leaderboard on the 'Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby' with a determined 3/4-length defeat of Geraldo Barows (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. going a one-turn mile at Tokyo Racecourse. American-bred Sea Vixen (Into Mischief), the only filly in the field of 14, was a brave third.

Ridden forward by Breeders' Cup-winning jockey Yuga Kawada, Combustion raced handy to a good pace set by Sea Vixen and was glued to the fence as the field reached the midway stage. Asked for his best with 400 meters to travel, Combustion charged through inside of the front-runner a bit more than a furlong from home and held firm as Geraldo Barows, third in the course-and-distance first leg of the series, the Cattleya S. back in November, took a run at him late.

Combustion is the 36th stakes winner for GI Cigar Mile H. hero Discreet Cat and the sire's second Japanese stakes winner. Smoldering, a half-sister to three-time SW Fashionista (Jpn) (Street Sense), is the dam of a yearling full-brother to Combustion and was most recently covered by Godolphin's dual G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}).

Combined with the eight points he earned for his runner-up effort to Dry Stout (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun in December, Combustion–who was not among the original nominees to the Triple Crown–now sits on 38 points, while Geraldo Barows took his point total to 14. Cattleya S. winner Consigliere (Jpn) (Drefong) runs in Saturday's $1.5-million Saudi Derby. The final leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is the Mar. 26 Fukuryu S. at Nakayama.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
HYACINTH S. (3rd Leg Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby)-Listed, ¥36,650,000 ($318,763), Tokyo, 2-20, 3yo, 1600m, 1:35.3, my.
1–COMBUSTION (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Discreet Cat
1st Dam: Smoldering (Jpn), by Pyro
2nd Dam: Aquarist (GB), by Coronado's Quest
3rd Dam: Oyster Catcher (Ire), by Bluebird
1ST STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Keizo Ito; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥19,315,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, ¥63,283,000.
2–Geraldo Barows (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Sinister Minister–What a Spot, by Arch. O-Hirotsugu Inokuma; B-Hattori Bokujo; T-Ryo Terashima; J-Shu Ishibashi; ¥7,690,000.
3–Sea Vixen, 119, f, 3, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai. ($130,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $500,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Yuji Hasegawa; B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY); T-Kazuo Fujisawa; J-Hiroshi Kitamura; ¥4,845,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 2.60, 10.50, 38.10.

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Happy Soul Coasts to Victory in Dixie Belle

Only a 2 1/4-length defeat to eventual Grade II stakes-placed runner Nakatomi (Firing Line) against the boys on Keeneland debut Apr. 14 stands between Happy Soul and a perfect record. She has since been dominant against her peers, with a near 12-length victory May 13 at Belmont Park and a carbon-copy masterclass June 3 in the venue's Astoria S. as the 1-9 chalk.

Making her 3-year-old bow here, the even-money favorite broke in line with the field and was asked to track the front-runner from third on the rail. Shoulder to shoulder with her competition but not yet asked, Happy Soul kicked clear of the longtime leader in midstretch to win by three lengths under wraps. Verylittlecents closed belatedly for second.

Her dam's most recent stakes winner, the victress is a half to a yearling colt by Good Magic and her dam is expecting a foal by Audible this season. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

DIXIE BELLE S., $150,000, Oaklawn, 2-19, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.44, ft.
1–HAPPY SOUL, 119, f, 3, by Runhappy
1st Dam: Cowgirl Lucky, by Stephen Got Even
2nd Dam: Energise, by Woodman
3rd Dam: De La Devil, by Devil's Bag
($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gayla Rankin; B-Harris Training Center, LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-John R. Velazquez. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $238,500. *1/2 to Corral Nocturne (Emcee), SP-Jpn, $656,030; 1/2 to Calgary Caper (El Corredor), GSW, $335,895.
2–Verylittlecents, 119, f, 3, Goldencents–Pinch Me, by Arch. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $85,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Randy Patterson; B-Kellie Holland, Tim Holland & Ramon Rangel (KY); T-Randy L. Morse. $30,000.
3–Hypersport, 115, f, 3, Blame–Good Witch Glinda, by Unbridled's Song. ($25,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Muddy Waters Stables LLC; B-Carrie Ann Walker (KY); T-Ingrid Mason. $15,000.
Margins: 3, 2HF, HF. Odds: 1.00, 8.60, 6.20.
Also Ran: Wicked Halo, Pretty Birdie, Ding Ding. Scratched: Com' On Sweet Luv, Icy Stare Down.

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Not This Time Colt Front and Center in Risen Star

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) made up for his close call in the GIII Lecomte S. with a front-running score in the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds, moving him up in the GI Kentucky Derby points rankings. Winchell Thoroughbreds and winning trainer Steve Asmussen also teamed up to take this event in 2016 with future Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

Away a breath slower than the rest, Epicenter quickly got his hooves beneath him and tugged his way up to the front under Joel Rosario. Bodock (Street Boss), a 63-1 shot, kept the pacesetter honest through early splits of :23.79 and :47.97 with Pappacap (Gun Runner) saving ground to Bodock's inside in third. Meanwhile favored 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy) bided his time back off the pace in sixth with GII Remsen S. runner-up Zandon (Upstart) sitting off his heels. Epicenter continued to lope along comfortably at the head of affairs, putting up three-quarters in 1:12.25. Rosario sat chilly in the saddle as Epicenter cruised clear with ease in the lane for a decisive victory. Smile Happy rallied for second with Zandon closing right behind him for third.

Fading to sixth in his seven-panel Churchill Downs unveiling in September, Epicenter returned with a good-looking graduation going a mile at that venue Nov. 13. Running away to a 6 1/2-length triumph in this venue's Gun Runner S. Dec. 26, he did most of the heavy lifting in the Lecomte S. last time Jan. 22, only to be headed by Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) late.

“He did run a really big race today,” Rosario said. “That was really nice. He looked like he was enjoying what he was doing and put in a really nice race today. We'll see going forward how far he can go.”
“A little different than his last race in that every quarter was perfect,” owner Ron Winchell said. He looked nice and comfortable we were just hoping he would finish off the race and he did. He looked great.”

Pedigree Notes:
Epicenter is the fifth graded winner and one of 17 black-type scorers for his young sire Not This Time. He is also the 14th graded scorer and one of 30 black-type winners out of a daughter of Candy Ride (Arg), who was also the broodmare sire of GIII Fair Grounds H. winner Cavalry Charge (Honor Code). Westwind Farms purchased the winner's dam Silent Candy for $130,000 at the 2014 KEENOV sale carrying a foal by Scat Daddy. Her recent produce includes a juvenile colt by Always Dreaming and a yearling filly by Tapiture. She was bred back to Outwork.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
RISEN STAR S. PRESENTED BY LAMARQUE FORD-GII, $400,000, Fair Grounds, 2-19, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.03, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 122, c, 3, by Not This Time
               1st Dam: Silent Candy (SW & GSP, $182,208), by Candy Ride (Arg)
               2nd Dam: Silent Queen, by King of Kings (Ire)
               3rd Dam: Soundproof (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Westwind Farms (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $240,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-3-1-0, $410,639. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Smile Happy, 122, c, 3, Runhappy–Pleasant Smile, by
Pleasant Tap. ($175,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $185,000 Ylg '20
FTKSEL). O-Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin); B-Moreau
Bloodstock Int'l Inc. & White Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Kenneth
McPeek. $80,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
3–Zandon, 122, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by Creative
Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown; B-Brereton
Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, HD. Odds: 3.50, 2.20, 3.80.
Also Ran: Pioneer of Medina, Tawny Port, Slow Down Andy, Trafalgar, Pappacap, Bodock, Russian Tank.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Nyquist Filly Upsets Rachel Alexandra S.

Ike and Dawn Thrash's Turnerloose (Nyquist) sprung a 17-1 upset to put herself on the GI Kentucky Oaks trail while making her first start on dirt in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds. Away alertly, the dark bay hustled up to be in contention before settling back in a ground-saving fourth as the well-related and previously unbeaten Silverbulletday S. winner La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro) dictated terms with GSW Hidden Connection (Connect) hot on her heels through a :23.94 opening quarter. La Crete was pulled up sharply as the half went up in :48.18, plummeting to the back of the pack, leaving Hidden Connection in charge.

Turnerloose inched closer, but was instantly shuffled back again as a slew of rivals charged up on her outside. Florent Geroux was undeterred, sitting chilly atop the Brad Cox pupil turning for home. He swung his mount out two wide in the lane as Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft) charged up alongside the pacesetter. Turnerloose was grinding along the outside and forged clear late to win by a half-length. Goddess of Fire held second and Awake at Midnyte (Nyquist) filled the show spot.

La Crete's owner Stonestreet Stable tweeted that the filly suffered a condylar fracture and is a good candidate for surgical repair.

“To be honest I didn't know if she could handle the dirt,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She worked well enough last fall. I gave her a little bit of a break. She worked well enough here at Fair Grounds. She tries hard. Always tries hard. We saw a better version of her today than we did in California [at the Breeders' Cup]. The two logical spots are the [GII] Fair Grounds Oaks or the [GI Central Bank] Ashland.”

A debut winner on the grass at Ellis Park July 16, Turnerloose romped by five lengths in the Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6. Setting the pace in Keeneland's grassy GII Jessamine S. Oct. 13, she was run down late by California Angel (California Chrome) and forced to settle for third and faded to 14th when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. at Del Mar Nov. 5.

Pedigree Notes:
Turnerloose is the fourth graded winner and one of seven black-type achievers for her young sire Nyquist. She is one of 247 black-type winners for her legendary broodmare sire A.P. Indy and the 117th graded scorer out of one of his daughters. The winner's unraced dam Goaltending is a daughter of Grade I winner Game Face (Menifee). The 11-year-old mare did not have a foal in 2020, but had an Arrogate filly in 2021 and a City of Light filly Jan. 12 of this year.

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