Koichi Shintani stablemates Crown Pride and Remake once again swept Seoul’s two major races on Sunday, this time earning free tickets to Breeders’ Cup events.
Crown Pride delivered another frontrunning tour de force in the $1.2 million Korea Cup (G3), now a “Win and You’re In” for the Dirt Mile (G1), and Remake offered his trademark late rally in the $1 million Korea Sprint (G3) to secure his spot in the Sprint (G1). California sprinter Anarchist vied early before retreating to third.
Korea Cup (G3)
Although Crown Pride crushed last year’s running by 10 lengths, compatriot Wilson Tesoro was bet down to 1-2 favoritism. Wilson Tesoro sported stronger current formlines, but the conditions of the Korea Cup brought out the best in the defending champion.
The 2.10-1 second choice, Crown Pride was sent straight to the early lead from the outside post 11. The Teruya Yoshida homebred cleared the field readily and took a strong hold for jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, who kept a lid on him until turning for home. After carving out splits of :25.3 and :50.3 on the good track, Crown Pride began to open up an insurmountable lead passing 1,200 meters (about six furlongs in 1:14.4).
When Wilson Tesoro advanced from the pack in hopes of bridging the gap, Crown Pride was already gone beyond recall. The favorite deserves credit for perseverance down the stretch, as he managed to hold Crown Pride’s margin to five lengths. The winner covered about 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.8.
Another five lengths back in third came the Korean-bred Global Hit. The other Japanese shipper, Light Warrior, settled for fourth, followed by Galaxy Road, Simjangui Godong, Montauk Chat, Vics Go, Heuk Jeonsa, and Winner’s Man. Success Macho was pulled up early.
Crown Pride’s signature win came in the 2022 UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night. Subsequently 13th in an epic pace collapse in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the dark bay returned to Japan and placed in such major races as the Champions Cup (G1), JBC Classic, and Teio Sho. The 2023 Korea Cup was his most recent win until he finally scored in the July 15 Mercury Cup last time out at Morioka. His second Korea Cup trophy advanced his record to 17-6-4-0 with approximately $4.7 million in earnings.
Bred by Yoshida’s Shadai Farm, Crown Pride is by Reach the Crown, a son of the Sunday Silence stallion Special Week. Crown Pride’s dam, Emmy’s Pride, is a daughter of King Kamehameha.
Korea Sprint (G3)
Remake has long been aiming for the Breeders’ Cup, and Koji Maeda’s homebred sailed through his final stepping stone to Del Mar.
Unlike last year, when Remake entered race-fit from his summer campaign, the chestnut was resuming from a five-month layoff. Last seen finishing a troubled fourth in the March 30 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), he showed no rust as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite in his title defense here.
Compatriot Jasper Krone flashed his usual speed, with Anarchist flanking him through an opening quarter in :23.2. Anarchist could not go with him after a half in a demanding :46 on this surface, and Jasper Krone established a daylight advantage down the lane.
But Remake was revving up under Yuga Kawada. Closing furiously inside the final furlong, the son of 2016 Triple Crown combatant Lani rolled past Jasper Krone to win going away by two lengths. Remake clocked about six furlongs in 1:10.3.
Jasper Krone was six lengths clear of Anarchist, who just salvaged third by a diminishing half-length from Korean-bred Speed Young. Next came Something Lost, Vincero Cavallo, Gangseo Giant, Morfhis, Black Musk, Daemangui Gil, Eoma Eoma, Daehan Jilju, Beolmaui Star, Yes Perfect, and Raon the Point.
Keiai Dorie, the other Japanese hopeful, was scratched with an injury to his right foreleg.
Remake’s second Korea Sprint improved his resume to 18-9-3-2 with a bankroll hovering around $3.6 million. Hero of the Feb. 24 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) on Saudi Cup Day, when he beat Skelly, Remake also captured the 2022 Capella (G3) at Nakayama and last year’s Cluster Cup at Morioka. His notable placings in 2023 include a third to two-time Eclipse Award champion Elite Power and Gunite in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and runner-up efforts in the Procyon (G3) and JBC Sprint.
Bred by the Maeda family’s North Hills Co., Remake is himself out of a King Kamehameha mare. His dam, the Grade 3-placed Sariel, descends from the influential matron Where You Lead.
