Japan: Arma Veloce surprises in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Arma Veloce, second by a nose to males in her stakes debut in August, scored a minor upset in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan, securing the country’s 2-year-old filly championship.

Arma Veloce paid $25.90 in American pools. May Day Ready, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1, could finish only 13th in a field of 18, losing by 8 1/2 lengths.

May Day Ready, the only foreign-based runner in Sunday’s race, broke from post 17 in a field of 18. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, May Day Ready stalked the pace while racing wide into early stretch before fading from contention.

The $834,355 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile was run on a right-handed course around one turn, a different layout from the left-handed tracks in the United States.

The Kyoto turf course was listed as good-to-firm. Dettori told Japan Racing Association publicists that May Day Ready prefers firm turf.

“I had a good position, but the filly had a long season,” Dettori said. “She prefers really fast ground. It was a little bit loose, and the first time right-handed confused her a little bit. The combination of the three things was why she ran no race today.”

Trainer Joseph Lee said May Day Ready will be rested after she returns to the United States.

Owned by KatieRich Stables, May Day Ready has won 3 of 5 starts, including the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 4. In the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, May Day Ready finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to the heavily favored Lake Victoria.

Arma Veloce won for the second time in her third start in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Ridden by Mirai Iwata for his first win in a Grade 1, Arma Veloce closed from the middle of the field of 18. Iwata moved Arma Veloce well wide through the stretch. The filly closed rapidly to finish 1 1/4 lengths in front of 31-1 Vip Daisy. Teleos La La (20-1) was third, beaten three lengths.

Iwata, who began riding in 2018, rode Arma Veloce for the first time on Sunday. He described Arma Veloce to JRA publicists as a filly “with great finishing speed.”

“The filly is really easy to ride and responsive when asked, so this is her strong point,” he said.

Arma Veloce, by Harbinger, races for owner Teruo Ono and trainer Hiroyuki Uemura. Arma Veloce won her debut in a maiden race for first-time starters at 1 1/8 miles at Sapporo Racecourse on Aug. 4 and was second there in the Grade 3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 31 in her most recent start before Sunday.

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies was moved from Hanshin Racecourse because of construction work at that venue.

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