Kizuna gets up to give Take record fifth Japanese Derby

Kizuna, shown winning his latest prep, was making his Grade 1 debut on Sunday (©Japan Racing Association) Going into Sunday’s Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), jockey Yutaka Take commented that his mount, Kizuna, was reminding him of his sire, the great Deep Impact. The colt promptly followed through on that endorsement by rallying furiously to defeat Epiphaneia by a half-length. Aside from furnishing the father-son double that Take so desired, Kizuna also gave his renowned rider a record fifth win in the Derby. It was the first Derby title for trainer Shozo Sasaki. Kizuna was facing the biggest class test of his young career in this middle jewel of Japan’s Triple Crown. He was clearly on the upswing after two straight graded scores in the March 23 Mainichi Hai and the May 4 Kyoto Shimbun Hai, but the elite members of his generation were coming out of the April 14 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas). Chief among them was Logotype, who had set a new course record when beating Epiphaneia that first classic at Nakayama. Logotype would have been the natural favorite to follow up in the Japanese Derby at Tokyo, but such was Kizuna’s reputation that he actually shaded the Guineas winner for favoritism. As expected, Apollo Sonic flashed his typical early speed, and Samson’s Pride also went forward. On the backstretch, however, Meikei Pega Star made a bold move from midpack and forged to the front. Meanwhile, Logotype was parked within striking range. Epiphaneia was a little further back in the pack, and Kizuna was held up near the rear.

Meikei Pega Star and Apollo Sonic argued into the stretch, but the closers
were swooping in on them. Epiphaneia loomed dangerously, and
the son of champion filly Cesario looked on the verge of a classic victory
inside the final sixteenth.

By that point, Kizuna was beginning to fire wider out on the course.
Finishing fastest of all, he collared Epiphaneia in a final time of 2:24.3 for
about 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf.

Another 1 1/4 lengths back came Apollo Sonic, a son of Big Brown, who was all
heart to hold third in a three-way photo with Peptide Amazon and Logotype. T M
Inazuma flew late for sixth. Next came Lovely Day, Tamamo Best Play, Codino,
Flamme de Gloire, Meikei Pega Star, Red Raven, Hiraboku Deep, Action Star,
Meiner Ho O, Crown Regalo, Samson’s Pride and Miyaji Taiga.

Kizuna’s scorecard now stands at 7-5-0-1,
¥352,401,000. After taking his first two starts at Kyoto last fall, the dark bay
finished a close third to Epiphaneia in the December 22 Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai
in his graded debut. Kizuna was again a close fifth, beaten only a half-length,
in the March 3 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho before commencing his current winning streak.

Bred by North Hills Co. Ltd. and owned by Shinji
Maeda, Kizuna is a half-brother to two-time Japanese champion Phalaenopsis and
Grade 2 hero Sunday Break. His second dam is Grade 1 star Pacific Princess,
whose other descendants include two consecutive Japanese Horses of the Year —
Biwa Hayahide in 1993 and 1994 Triple Crown sweeper, Narita Brian.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com