Japan: With title on the line, battle of unbeatens in Asahi Hai Futurity

The undefeated colts Arte Veloce and Total Clarity will dominate the betting in Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan with Arte Veloce expected to go favored.

Both Arte Veloce and Total Clarity have won twice, in races for first-time starters in the summer and Grade 3 stakes.

Arte Veloce won the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at a mile at Tokyo on Oct. 5 in his last start, while Total Clarity won the Niigata Nisai Stakes at a mile at Niigata Racecourse on Aug. 25 in his most recent appearance.

Both runners tend to race from off the pace and have favorable starting positions in the $882,500 Asahi Hai Futurity, which is run at a mile. Arte Veloce will break from post 8, while Total Clarity starts from post 10.

The winner is expected to be named champion 2-year-old male. The Asahi Hai Futurity is the lone Grade 1 race for the division.

The race drew a field of 16, all Japanese-breds.

Aside from Arte Veloce and Total Clarity, Museum Mile is held in high regard for winning his last two starts in a maiden race on Oct. 5 and an allowance race on Nov. 10. Museum Mile was third in his debut in August.

The Asahi Hai Futurity has a post time of 1:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 10:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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