Japan: Chrono Genesis romps in Takarazuka Kinen

In 2019, the mare Lys Gracieux won the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen in a season she was named Japan’s Horse of the Year.

Sunday, the 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis won the second Grade 1 race of her career in the $2.71 million Takarazuka Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse.

In a way, Chrono Genesis was better than Lys Gracieux. Last year, Lys Gracieux won by three lengths. Chrono Genesis won by a record six lengths in the final Grade 1 race of the Japanese spring-summer calendar.

Chrono Genesis earned berths for two international races with the win – the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland or the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Oct. 24 in Australia.

Last year, Lys Gracieux won the Cox Plate and later the Arima Kinen Stakes in Japan to clinch her title.

Sunday, Chrono Genesis (3-1) closed from the middle of a field of 18 to reach the front with less than a quarter-mile remaining.

“She was responding really well, so I knew that she [would] stretch well in the lane,” winning jockey Yuichi Kitamura said. “She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition.”

Kiseki (13-1) finished second in the Takarazuka Kinen for the second consecutive year. Mozo Bello, a 105-1 shot, finished third. Saturnalia, the champion 3-year-old male in 2019 in Japan, finished fourth as the 7-5 favorite, beaten 12 3/4 lengths.

Last October, Chrono Genesis won the Grade 1 Shuka Sho for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Kyoto Racecourse. Earlier this year, Chrono Genesis won the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen Stakes at 1 3/8 miles at Kyoto in February and was second against males in the Group 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles on April 5.

Chrono Genesis, by Bago, has won 6 of 11 starts, including five stakes. She races for Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. and trainer Takashi Saito.