Harp Star favored in Japanese Oaks
Harp Star, who rallied from last in a field of 18 to win the Japanese 1000 Guineas at Hanshin Racecourse in April, will be favored to win her third consecutive stakes in Sunday’s $2,204,393 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
Harp Star, by Deep Impact, is part of a field of 18 in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks, run over 1 1/2 miles on turf. Trained by Hiroyoshi Matsuda, Harp Star will be ridden by regular jockey Yuga Kawada, who was aboard for the win in the Japanese 1000 Guineas and the filly’s first start of the year, the Group 3 Tulip Sho in March.
Harp Star, who races for U. Carrot Farm, has won 4 of 5 starts in her career. She was second by a nose in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December.
In the Japanese Oaks, known as the Yushun Himba, Harp Star faces Nuovo Record, who was third in the Japanese 1000 Guineas; Bounce Shasse, a Group 3 stakes winner in March who was 11th in the 1000 Guineas; and Sang Real, a Group 2 stakes winner over 1 1/4 miles on turf at Tokyo Racecourse on April 27.