Japan: Streaking Sodashi takes nose win in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

The eye-catching filly Sodashi has a race record as memorable as her looks.

A white Thoroughbred, Sodashi remained unbeaten in four starts with a nose win over Satono Reinas in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.

The win clinches Sodashi’s status as the country’s leading 2-year-old filly.

Ridden by Hayato Yoshida for trainer Naosuke Sugai, Sodashi, the 2-1 favorite, stalked the pace to early stretch and held off a late threat from 3-1 Satono Reinas to record a narrow win in the one-mile turf race run on firm turf. Uberleban, a 29-1 outsider, finished third in the field of 18, a neck behind Satono Reinas.

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Sodashi was reluctant to load in the gate, but settled well in the race, Yoshida told Japan Racing Association publicists.

“She hated to even go near the gate, but I’m relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped,” Yoshida said. “The going affected her turn of foot, but she gave all she had. There is room for improvement, and I hope we can get her ready for next year’s classics.”

By Kurofune, Sodashi has won three stakes, including two Grade 3 races – the Nisai Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Sapporo on Sept. 5 and the Artemis Stakes at a mile at Tokyo on Oct. 31. Sodashi is owned and was bred by Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co., Ltd.

Satono Reinas was beaten for the first time in her third start in the $1.2 million Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.