Japan: Danon Smash notches second consecutive top-level turf win

Danon Smash won his second consecutive turf sprint at the highest level in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan, his first start of 2021.

Danon Smash, a 6-year-old horse by Lord Kanaloa, won the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin Racecourse in December in his final start of 2020.

Danon Smash has been invited to the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at six furlongs at Sha Tin on April 25.

In the $2.31 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs, Danon Smash broke from post 14 in a field of 18 and raced toward the back of the field.

Danon Smash closed between horses in early stretch to finish a neck in front of Resistencia, with Indy Champ beaten another neck in third.

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Danon Smash paid $12.80 in American pools, and beat two champions. Resistencia, the champion 2-year-old filly in Japan in 2019, was the 9-5 favorite, while Indy Champ, the 2019 champion sprinter or miler in Japan, was 5-1.

Resistencia had her first career start at six furlongs in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, having won the Grade 3 Hankyu Hai at seven furlongs on Feb. 28.

Danon Smash, who was ridden by Yuga Kawada, races for Danon Co., Ltd., and trainer Takayuki Yasuda. Danon Smash has won 10 of 22 starts, including eight graded- or group-level stakes. He was fourth in the 2019 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and 10th last year.

Sunday’s race and the Hong Kong Sprint are his only victories in Group 1 or Grade 1 races.

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God Selection, a Japanese-bred colt by Novellist, won Saturday’s $315,731 Fukuryu Stakes at 1 1/8 miles to gain top position in Japan’s qualifying series as a potential Kentucky Derby starter.

God Selection (14-1) was always near the front and won by three lengths over Meisho Murakumo, the 7-2 second choice in a field of 14.

A winner of 3 of 5 starts, God Selection has raced only at 1 1/8 miles. The Fukuryu Stakes was his stakes debut. The victory maintained a perfect record for the colt this year, preceded by an allowance race win at Chukyo on Feb. 7.

God Selection earned 40 qualifying points with Saturday’s win and leads the standings of Japan-based horses in the Kentucky Derby qualifying series. One berth to the Kentucky Derby is available through the Japanese series. God Selection is trained by Teiichi Konno for Hiroyuki Kawakatsu.

The colt is not currently nominated to the American Triple Crown, but can be made eligible with a $6,000 nomination on Monday.