Gentildonna ties Japanese record in victorious Arima Kinen finale

Gentildonna ties Japanese record in victorious Arima Kinen

finale

Unlike in the Japan Cup, however, Epiphaneia could not put his pursuers away.

Gentildonna accosted him and wrested control in deep stretch. Sophomore To the

World, a 30-1 shot, flashed home late, but Gentildonna held him at bay by

three-quarters of a length. She negotiated about 1 9/16 miles on firm turf in

2:35.3, improving her record to 19-10-4-1.

"I'm really glad she was able to show her best performance in the last race

of her career," said winning rider Keita Tosaki, who had previously guided her

to a runner-up effort in the November 2 Tenno Sho (Autumn). "When I rode her the

last time she was easy to ride and very clever, so I felt very comfortable

riding her this time. I was able to race her just as I had imagined, settling

her towards the front and making use of her persistent late charge. She

responded well until the end."

Gold Ship missed second by a nose while edging fellow closer Just a Way for

third. Just a Way, the world's highest-rated racehorse, recorded the fastest

final three-furlong split in :33.6. Also retiring like Gentildonna, he will

enter stud at Shadai Stallion Station. Epiphaneia was a one-paced fifth in the

blanket finish. Early leader Verxina faded to 14th in the 16-horse field.

Gentildonna was honored as Japan's Horse of the Year in 2012 after sweeping

the Fillies' Triple Crown and upending Orfevre in the Japan Cup. The only

sophomore filly ever to win that international feature, she made history again

in 2013 by becoming the only two-time Japan Cup winner. That earned her the

champion older mare crown, a title she's sewn up for 2014 as well. Her resume

also includes a second in the 2013 Dubai Sheema Classic, a third in that

season's Takarazuka Kinen, and seconds in the past two runnings of the Tenno Sho

(Autumn).

Bred by Northern Racing in Japan, Gentildonna is a full sister to multiple

Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Donau Blue. Their dam, the Bertolini mare

Donna Blini, scored her signature wins in the 2005 Cheveley Park and Cherry

Hinton.

A retirement ceremony was held for Gentildonna at the conclusion of racing,

and more than 40,000 fans remained on track for the festivities.

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