Heavily favored Almond Eye wins Japanese Oaks

Almond Eye won her second consecutive Grade 1 race in Sunday’s $2.25 million Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse, giving winning rider Christophe Lemaire a memorable 39th birthday present.

Lemaire helped the cause by giving Almond Eye a cool ride.

The winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile on turf at Hanshin Racecourse in April, Almond Eye had no difficulty handing the 1 1/2 miles on turf in the Japanese Oaks. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Almond Eye stalked the pace before taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining.

Despite drifting toward the rail late, Almond Eye pulled clear to win by two lengths over 11-1 Lily Noble. Lucky Lilac, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2017 in Japan, finished third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths as the 3-1 second choice.

The win launched discussion on whether Almond Eye can sweep the Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies in Japan. The 1000 Guineas and Oaks are the first two races in the series, followed by the Grade 1 Shuka Sho at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Kyoto on Oct. 14.

The first three finishers of the Japanese Oaks also earned fees-paid berths in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Sept. 16.

Almond Eye, a Japanese-bred by Lord Kanaloa, has won 4 of 5 starts, including all three of her starts this year in graded stakes. Almond Eye is trained by Sakae Kunieda for Silk Racing Co. Ltd.

The lone American-bred in the field was Randonee, a Kentucky-bred by Blame who was bred by Winchester Farm. Randonee finished 11th in the Japanese Oaks, her group stakes debut. She won the Sweetpea Stakes at Tokyo last month.