Japan: W Heart Bond nips Wilson Tesoro at wire in Champions Cup

W Heart Bond had an excellent position as a stalker for the first seven furlongs of Sunday’s Grade 1 Champions Cup on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

The stretch run, however, tested the faith of her backers.

W Heart Bond took the lead with more than a furlong remaining and was fully extended to hold off a late threat from Wilson Tesoro and win by nose. The two ran together in the final strides, exchanging leads in a head-bobbing finish.

W Heart Bond, who paid $19.60 in American pools, won for the seventh time in her eighth start on Sunday, racing against males. The $1.49 million Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles is one of the richest dirt races in Japan and was W Heart Bond’s debut in a Grade 1.

A 4-year-old filly by Kizuna, W Heart Bond races for Silk Racing Co., Ltd, and trainer Ryuji Okubo.

W Heart Bond broke from post 2 in a field of 16 in the Champions Cup. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, W Heart Bond stalked Sixpence and William Barows, who shared the pace. Sakai patiently guided W Heart Bond outside of that pair on the turn and into the stretch before taking the lead.

“We didn’t have a specific race plan, so I focused on riding her while keeping an eye on our rivals,” Sakai told Japan Racing Association publicity. “She felt good (on the turn) and I trusted that she would give her best run when she geared up as Wilson Tesoro came from the inside.

She was really strong today.”

Wilson Tesoro (8-1) finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of 13-1 Ramjet. The Kentucky-bred colt Luxor Café, who finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby in May, finished 15th after a wide trip. Luxor Café (7-1) was ridden by Florent Geroux, who was based at Churchill Downs earlier this fall.

Narukami, the even-money favorite, finished 13th and also had a wide trip. He was beaten for only the second time in seven career starts.

W Heart Bond won her first five starts, a streak that ended with a second-place finish by 1 1/2 lengths in the Breeders Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Monbetsu Racecourse on Aug. 28. W Heart Bond rebounded to win her graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Miyako Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Kyoto Racecourse on Nov. 9.

W Heart Bond is out of Persistently, a mare by Smoke Glacken who won the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes for the Phipps Family and trainer Shug McGaughey at Saratoga in 2010.

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