Filly Aerolithe closes late for NHK Mile victory in Tokyo

Aerolithe, who finished fifth in the Japanese 1000 Guineas on April 9, won Sunday’s Grade 1 NHK Mile for 3-year-olds colts and fillies at Tokyo Racecourse, leading a 1-2 finish by fillies.

The New York-bred filly Rieno Tesoro, purchased for $250,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in 2015, finished second in her Grade 1 debut in the $1,821,571 race. There were four fillies in the field of 18.

Aerolithe (9-2) closed from sixth to take the lead in the final furlong. Ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama, Aerolithe won by 1 1/2 lenghs over 36-1 Rieno Tesoro.

“She was a bit too quick out of the gate, but settled nicely without me actually hitting the brakes,” Yokoyama told Japan Racing Association publicity. “She still appears to have a lot more in her and I expect her to be even more powerful in the autumn season.”

Bom Servico (13-1) finished third, while 4-1 favorite Karakurenai finished 17th.

Aerolithe has won 2 of 6 starts for the Sunday Racing Co. and trainer Takenori Kikuzawa. By Kurofune, Aerolithe was second in two Grade 3 stakes in January and February before the loss in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas.

Rieno Tesoro was bred by Oak Bluff Stables and is out of Akilina, by Langfuhr. Akilina won 6 of 26 starts and earned $316,460 from 2008 to 2011. She won two minor stakes and was third in the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park in 2010.