Japan: Dolce More notches 2-year-old male title with Asahi Hai Futurity win

Dolce More clinched the title of champion 2-year-old male in Japan with a narrow win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at a mile at Hanshin Racecourse.

Sent as the second choice in American pools in a field of 17, Dolce More ($6.80) closed from third to finish a neck in front of 2-1 favorite Danon Touchdown, who finished a neck in front of 5-1 Labeling.

Dolce More took the lead with a furlong remaining and was tested to the wire by Danon Touchdown.

“I expected the pace to be fast since there were runners coming off short-distanced races,” winning jockey Ryusei Sakai told Japan Racing Association publicity. “My colt ran in a good position and responded and held on well.”

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Dolce More, a colt by Rulership, races for Three H Racing Co., Ltd., and trainer Naosuke Sugai. Dolce More is out of Ayusan, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies in 2013.

Dolce More is unbeaten in three starts. He won his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Saudi Arabian Royal Cup at a mile at Tokyo on Oct. 8.

The Kentucky-bred colt From Dusk, purchased for $900,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale auction of 2-year-olds in-training in March, finished 16th of 17, beaten 10 lengths at 45-1.

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