Japan: Gran Alegria upsets Almond Eye in Yasuda Kinen

Gran Alegria, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2019 in Japan, had an ideal trip to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse in an 11-1 upset over 3-10 Almond Eye.

Gran Alegria’s smooth journey through the one-mile race was a major factor in the victory. Almond Eye, the 2018 Japanese Horse of the Year, broke slowly and was unable to recover. She rallied to finish second, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Almond Eye had won the Grade 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse by an impressive four lengths on May 10, a race Gran Alegria missed because of a fever.

With the win, Gran Alegria earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Gran Alegria, by Deep Impact, won her second start of 2020 in the $2.3 million Yasuda Kinen, having finished second in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse on March 29, Japan’s top sprint of the spring.

In the Yasuda Kinen, Gran Alegria closed from a stalking position to take the lead in early stretch.

“I was focused on keeping her in good rhythm and in a good position, which all worked out beautifully,” winning rider Kenichi Ikezoe said. “She just gave her best with such a tenacious run down the stretch. I was afraid up to the line that were going to get caught, especially by Almond Eye.”

Ikezoe said that during the race he was struck in the eye by a “chunk of grass.”

Jockey Christophe Lemaire said a poor start hurt Almond Eye.

“We had a poor break, but I think we recovered well and made a smooth bid and strong bid turning for home with Gran Alegria in aim,” he said. “She showed a good turn of foot, but she could have done better. The winner was just so strong.”

Almond Eye has won 9 of 13 starts, but has lost three of her last five races. She was third in the 2019 Yasuda Kinen behind Indy Champ, who finished third in Sunday’s running.

Gran Alegria, who races for Sunday Racing Co. Ltd and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, has won 5 of 8 starts. Prior to Sunday’s win, Gran Alegria’s most prestigious victory was the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in April 2019.

Gran Alegria is out of Tapitsfly, who won 7 of 24 starts and earned $1,495,503 racing in the United States. Trained by Dale Romans, Tapitsfly won five stakes, including two Grade 1 races in 2012 – the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park and the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.

Tapitsfly was later sold for $1.85 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall mixed sale to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan.