10/14/2012 2:57PM

Japan: Gentildonna completes Triple Crown for fillies

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Gentildonna became the fourth filly to capture the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies with her nose victory over Verxina in Sunday’s $2.3 million Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.

Ridden by Yasunari Iwata for trainer Sei Ishizaka, Gentildonna, the 3-10 favorite, closed from the middle of the field of 18 3-year-old fillies to catch Verxina in the final sixteenth. Aromatico finished third.

The first two finishers are by Deep Impact. Gentildonna became the first filly to win the Japanese Triple Crown since Apapane in 2010.

Verxina became the first filly to finish second in all three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, which included the Japanese 1000 Guineas in April and the Japanese Oaks in May.

Gentildonna and Verxina were also first and second in the Group 2 Rose Stakes last month, a prep for the Shuka Sho.

The Shuka Sho was run over 1 1/4 miles on turf on a right-handed course.

Gentildonna and Aromatico are owned by the Sunday Racing partnership.

Gentildonna has won 6 of 8 starts in her career.

JoyJackson21 More than 1 year ago
Congratulatins to Gentldonna for winning Japan's Triple Crown for fillies. Quite an accomplishment! Gentldonna and Orfevre. Two Triple Crowns in the Land of the Rising Sun in back-to-back years. Interestingly, Gentildonna is the daughter of Deep Impact, who won the Japanese Triple Crown himself in 2005. They are the only father/daughter team to have won the Japanese Triple Crown. Gentildonna is also owned by the same group who owns Orfevre, last year's Japanese Triple Crown champion. Gentildonna was hooked up to win her Triple Crown no matter how you look at it. She came from a championship organization and championship stock. It is almost as if it was meant to be. Congratulations, again, to Gentildonna and her connections on winning a wonderful honor.