Third favorite Ascoli Piceno claimed the $1,071,000 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse, marking her third win in as many career starts while lowering the stakes record to 1:32.6.
The winning time for the 1,600 meters (about one mile) on turf rated as good to firm was just just 0.3 seconds off the course record.
After breaking her maiden in her debut start at Tokyo in June, the Daiwa Major filly stepped up in class and immediately won her first graded stakes in the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3) on Aug. 27, then struck at the elite level Sunday for owner Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. and trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa.
The race got underway with Chicago Sting sent to the front, followed by Nanao pressing the pace on her outside while Ascoli Piceno traveled two-wide and in midpack. Still behind a group of horses when entering the straight, Ascoli Piceno switched a path out for clear running and dueled with Corazon Beat down the middle of the stretch.
After finally pinning the pacesetter 100 meters out, Ascoli Piceno shook off the stubborn Corazon Beat and dug in strongly, holding off the late-charging Stellenbosch by a neck.
“The stable staff did a great job and she was in very good condition, so I had every confidence in her,” said winning rider Hiroshi Kitamura. “The filly broke better than in her previous start, was relaxed during the race, and responded well in the stretch. I was a bit worried for a second that we were going to get caught, but she gave her all, all the way to the line.”
Fifth pick Stellenbosch, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, was reserved around 10th right behind the eventual winner and although struggled for room in early stretch, launched the fastest late kick to catch Corazon Beat 100 meters out but was a neck short at the wire and finished second.
Second choice Corazon Beat settled in around sixth, circled wide into the lane and dueled with the winner but lacked the final kick and missed the runner-up seat while securing third another 1 1/4 lengths back.
Race favorite Safira ran on the outside and beside the eventual runner-up in the early stages and lost ground when shifted out wide on the last turn, but she closed strongly picking off her rivals to finish fourth, three lengths behind Corazon Beat in the field of 18.
Ascoli Piceno was bred by Northern Farm from the Danehill Dancer mare Ascolti.
Past winners of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies include many successful Grade 1 champions, such as 2006 winner and 2008 and 2009 Horse of the Year Vodka; 2008 champion and 2010 Horse of the Year Buena Vista; and last year's victor Liberty Island, who subsequently became the seventh filly to sweep Japan's fillies' Triple Crown and went on to recently mark a respectable runner-up effort against Equinox in the Japan Cup (G1).
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