Japan: Gentildonna completes Triple Crown for fillies

Gentildonna became the fourth filly to capture the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies with her nose victory over Verxina in Sunday’s $2.3 million Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.

Ridden by Yasunari Iwata for trainer Sei Ishizaka, Gentildonna, the 3-10 favorite, closed from the middle of the field of 18 3-year-old fillies to catch Verxina in the final sixteenth. Aromatico finished third.

The first two finishers are by Deep Impact. Gentildonna became the first filly to win the Japanese Triple Crown since Apapane in 2010.

Verxina became the first filly to finish second in all three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, which included the Japanese 1000 Guineas in April and the Japanese Oaks in May.

Gentildonna and Verxina were also first and second in the Group 2 Rose Stakes last month, a prep for the Shuka Sho.

The Shuka Sho was run over 1 1/4 miles on turf on a right-handed course.

Gentildonna and Aromatico are owned by the Sunday Racing partnership.

Gentildonna has won 6 of 8 starts in her career.