Clarity Sky closes strong to win NHK Mile

Clarity Sky rebounded from a fifth-place finish in the Japanese 2000 Guineas in April to win Sunday’s $1,600,400 NHK Mile for 3-year-olds at Tokyo Racecourse over the previously unbeaten Kentucky-bred filly Albiano.

Clarity Sky, the 5-1 third choice, closed from fifth in a field of 18 to win by a length over Albiano, the 5-1 fourth choice. Musee Sultan, the 9-2 second choice, finished third, with Grand Silk, the 3-1 favorite, running fifth.

Albiano led by two lengths with a quarter-mile remaining but could not sustain the advantage. She was one of two fillies in the field. A Kentucky-bred by Harlan’s Holiday, Albiano won her first three starts. She was purchased at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale of 2-year-olds in training in a post-sale private transaction for $400,000.

Clarity Sky is by the French Deputy stallion Kurofune, who won the 2001 NHK Mile. Ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama for trainer Yasao Tomomaki, Clarity Sky was timed in 1:33.50 in the race on firm turf. Clarity Sky has won 3 of 8 starts for owner Tadakuni Sugiyama. The colt won the Icho Stakes at 2.

The NHK Mile program drew an on-track crowd of 47,222. Handle on the NHK Mile was $107.8 million. Handle on the 12-race program was $175.7 million.