Etario tries to break string of second-place finishes in Tenno Sho at Kyoto Racecourse

One of these days it seems logical that the 4-year-old Etario will win a major race in Japan. He certainly has enough seconds, and narrow losses in the last year.

Etario has one win in 10 starts with seven second-place finishes, a trend that could be reversed in Sunday’s spring running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at Kyoto Racecourse. A two-mile turf race, the $2.598 million Tenno Sho is the springtime championship for stayers in Japan.

Etario, a colt by Stay Gold, has been second in his last three starts, a span that includes a nose loss to Fierement in the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles last October and a second in the Grade 2 Nikkei Sho at 1 9/16 miles at Nakayama on March 23.

Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, Etario is a closer who will be ridden by Mirco Demuro.

Fierement has started once this year, finishing second in the Grade 2 American Jockey Club Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Nakayama in January. Fierement was given a brief rest following that race after developing a fever.

Etario is expected to be favored, while Fierement is a likely second choice in the field of 13, smaller than most Japanese Grade 1 races.

You Can Smile will draw support. A 4-year-old colt, You Can Smile won the Grade 3 Diamond Stakes at four 4 of 10 starts in his career.