Japan: The streaking Sodashi looks to shine in Shuka Sho
Sodashi, the rare white Thoroughbred, has a race record as stunning as her looks.
Sodashi has won 6 of 7 starts in Japan, where she was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2020. Sodashi is a two-time graded stakes winner this year with an excellent chance for the 3-year-old filly title if she runs well in Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin Racecourse.
The $1.7 million Shuka Sho, run at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old fillies, will be the fifth meeting between Sodashi and her rival Uberleben, who won the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo in May. Sodashi was only eighth in that race.
Last year, Sodashi beat Uberleben in three graded stakes, including a title-clinching win in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in December.
Since the Japanese Oaks, Sodashi rebounded to win the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen at 1 1/4 miles at Sapporo Racecourse on Aug. 22, while Uberleben has not started because of concern over a tendon in the spring.
Trainer Takahisa Tezuka told Japan Racing Association publicity earlier this month that Uberleben has been playing catch-up in her training in recent weeks.
“When her hard training started, her lungs were still weak and I did question whether she’d be ready in time,” he said. “But with each bit of work, she improved and [was] faster than I thought.”
Uberleben tends to run from off the pace, while Sodashi can be closer to the front.
Aside from those two, Fine Rouge, third to Sodashi in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in April, but 11th in the Japanese Oaks, is rated as a filly to watch. Fine Rouge won her first start of a fall campaign in the Grade 3 Shion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 11, closing from the middle of the field.
The Shuka Sho drew a field of 16, including the second- through fourth-place finishers in the Japanese Oaks – Akaitorino Musume, Tagano Passion, and Art de Vivre. Wins by those fillies would be a surprise against Sodashi and Uberleben.
The Shuka Sho 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.