Blast Onepiece holds on to win Arima Kinen Stakes

Blast Onepiece, the only 3-year-old in a field of 16, caught pacesetter Kiseki in the stretch and held off a late threat from Rey de Oro to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan in a 7-1 upset.

Blast Onepiece, ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe for trainer Masahiro Otake, prevailed by a neck in the $5.16 million race at 1 9/16 miles.

Rey de Oro was the 6-5 favorite on the strength of a win in the autumn running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho in October. Cheval Grand, who won the 2017 Japan Cup and was third in the Arima Kinen a month later, finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Blast Onepiece.

Kiseki, who was second in the Japan Cup last month, faded to fifth.

Blast Onepiece, a colt by the Dansili stallion Harbinger, races for Silk Racing Co. Ltd. Earlier this year, Blast Onepiece won two Grade 3 races and was fourth as the favorite in the Japanese St. Leger in October. He has won 5 of 7 starts.

The field for the Arima Kinen was largely determined by a vote of racing fans, who select 10 of the 16 runners. The remainder of the field was determined by career earnings.

The race drew a crowd of 100,189, according to a statement from the Japan Racing Association.

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