Kiseki makes Japanese St. Leger first stakes win

Kiseki won his first stakes and his fourth race in an eight-race career Sunday with the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Kyoto Racecourse.

Ridden by Mirco Demuro for Katsuhiko Sumii, Kiseki, the 7-2 favorite, closed from midpack in a field of 18 to win by two lengths over 29-1 Clincher. Popocatepetl, a 43-1 longshot, finished third. Al Ain, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April, could finish only seventh as the 7-2 second choice.

Kiseki and many of the other runners raced wide through the final turn to avoid the softest part of the rain-soaked turf course. Keseki took the lead with about a furlong remaining.

The $2.3 million Japanese St. Leger is the third leg of the Triple Crown. Al Ain won the first leg. Japanese Derby winner Rey de Oro was not part of the St. Leger field.

Kiseki, who is by Rulership, was second to Rey de Oro in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Hanshin on Sept. 24.