Japan: Sodashi faces males in Yasuda Kinen, a Win and You're in for the BC Mile
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Sodashi, a visibly striking white Thoroughbred, has become one of the most popular horses in Japan, not only for her looks but as a Grade 1 winner in that country annually from 2020 to 2022.
The champion 3-year-old filly of 2021 in Japan, Sodashi will have no shortage of admirers, or support from deep-pocketed bettors, when she attempts to beat males for the first time in a Grade 1 in Sunday’s Yasuda Kinen at a mile at on turf at Tokyo Racecourse.
The $2.48 million Yasuda Kinen will be Sodashi’s second start of the year following a second in the Grade 1 Victoria Mile for fillies and mares at Tokyo on May 14.
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Trained by Naosuke Sugai, Sodashi drew post 5 in a tough field of 18 in the Yasuda Kinen and is one of four fillies and mares in the lineup. Aside from the prestige and purse of the Yasuda Kinen, the winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Sodashi, a winner of 7 of 15 starts, has never raced outside of Japan. Despite her exceptional credentials, she is in the midst of a career-long four-race losing streak, although she was beaten by only a head in the Victoria Mile by Songline, a winner of 6 of 14 starts.
Songline won the 2022 Yasuda Kinen, but drew post 18 for Sunday’s race, a tough starting spot in a big field even for a closer.
Jack d’Or, a potential pacesetter, drew post 3 for his first start since a win in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles at Hanshin Racecourse on April 2, his only start this year. Remarkably, the Yasuda Kinen will be Jack d’Or’s first start at a mile. He has won 8 of 14 starts, racing only at 1 1/4 miles since the end of his 2-year-old season in 2020.
The Yasuda Kinen has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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