Japan: Namura Clair will need to work out a trip from rail in Sprinters Stakes
An inside post may pose a tactical challenge for the four-time stakes winner Namura Clair in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on Sunday.
Namura Clair drew the rail in a field of 16. While the 4-year-old filly tends to run from off the pace, she will need a clean trip under jockey Suguru Hamanaka to win for the first time in her sixth appearance in a Grade 1 in the $2.2 million Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs.
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A winner of 5 of 14 starts, Namura Clair won her last start in the Grade 3 Keeneland Cup at six furlongs at Sapporo Racecourse on Aug. 27, closing from seventh in a field of 16 to win by a length. Earlier this year, Namura Clair was second in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs, Japan’s leading sprint of the spring, at Chukyo Racecourse in March. First Force, who won the race, is not part of the Sprinters Stakes field.
Jasper Krone, the winner of consecutive Grade 3 races at six furlongs in July and August, and T M Spada, the upset winner of the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes on Sept. 10, are other prominent runners in the Sprinters Stakes. Both tend to run near the front.
Jasper Krone, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Frosted, was bought for a mere $90,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale March Sale in 2021.
T M Spada was the shocking winner of the Centaur Stakes at six furlongs, going off at 112-1 in a field of 15 to score his fifth win in his 15th start.
T M Spada drew post 2 in the Sprinters Stakes and is likely to be forward early to establish position in the large field. T M Spada was 15th of 16 in the 2022 Sprinters Stakes.
The Sprinters Stakes has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday and 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.
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