Japan: Killer Ability shows classic potential in Hopeful Stakes victory
Killer Ability emphasized his status as a leading prospect for the Japanese 3-year-old classics in 2022 with a victory in Tuesday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse.
Killer Ability ($23.60) closed from third in a field of 15 and was timed in stakes-record 2:00.60. The previous mark of 2:01.40 was set by Time Flyer in 2017.
Killer Ability, ridden by Takashi Yokoyama, took the lead with less than a furlong remaining and won by 1 1/2 lengths over 5-2 Justin Palace. Lagulf (25-1) finished third.
“We sat in a good position and when the colt was able to relax in the backstretch, I had all the confidence I needed that he was going to win,” Yokoyama told Japan Racing Association publicists. “I’m sure he will go on to improve further and become stronger.”
The Hopeful was Yokoyama’s second Grade 1 win in recent days. On Sunday, Yokoyama rode Efforia to a popular win in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen, a $5.02 million race for older horses.
Command Line, previously undefeated in two starts, finished 12th as the 3-2 favorite in the Hopeful Stakes. Command Line was never a factor, finishing about eight lengths behind Killer Ability.
The $1.18 million Hopeful Stakes was restricted to 2-year-old colts and fillies.
Trained by Takashi Saito for Carrot Farm Co. Ltd., Killer Ability is by Deep Impact and is out of Killer Graces, a Kentucky-bred by Congaree who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park in California in 2011. Carrot Farm also owns Efforia.
Killer Graces was sold for $850,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Killer Ability has won 2 of 4 starts. He won a maiden race in his second start in August and was second in the Hagi Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Oct. 30 in his stakes debut.
In the Hagi Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, Killer Ability finished a neck behind Danon Scorpion, who was third in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at a mile at Hanshin on Dec. 19.
There is a good chance Killer Ability and Danon Scorpion will meet again, possibly in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at Nakayama Racecourse on April 17. The 2000 Guineas is the first race of the Japanese Triple Crown.
A previous version of this article misstated the sale at which Killer Graces was sold. It was the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale.