Japan: Takamatsunomiya Kinen draws field of 18

The 4-year-old colt Grenadier Guards and the 5-year-olds Resistencia and Salios can win their first Grade 1 races since their 2-year-old seasons in Sunday’s $2.69 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is the first Grade 1 run on turf this year in Japan, and the first start of the year for Grenadier Guards, Resistencia, and Salios.
Grenadier Guards won the Grade 2 Hanshin Cup at seven furlongs on Christmas Day at Hanshin Racecourse, his only stakes win in five starts last year.

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Grenadier Guards won the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at a mile at Hanshin in December 2020 in his final start at 2.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen will be his first start at six furlongs in his 10th race.

Resistencia, Japan’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2019, was second in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at six furlongs at Sha Tin Racecourse in December, a race marred by a spill. A mare, Resistencia was second in the 2021 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, losing by a neck to Danon Smash.

Salios has not raced since a third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin in December. Winless in his last five starts, this will be his first start at six furlongs. He won the Futurity Stakes in 2019 but was not recognized as the champion for that season.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen drew a field of 18.

Of the runners with recent starts, the 4-year-old filly Meikei Yell is well regarded on the strength of a win in the Grade 3 Silk Road Stakes at six furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse on Jan. 30. Last year, Meikei Yell was a Grade 2 winner against 3-year-old fillies and was fourth in the Grade 1 Sprinters’ Stakes against males at six furlongs at Nakayama Racecourse in October.

The Takamatsunomiya 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.