Nuovo Record gets revenge in Japanese Oaks

In April, Nuovo Record was caught in the final strides of the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas by Harp Star, losing the classic race by a neck. In Sunday’s $2,204,393 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse, Nuovo Record held off a late challenge from the heavily favored Harp Star to win the first stakes of her career.

Ridden by Yasanuri Iwata, Nuovo Record (8-1) won by a neck after taking the lead with a furlong remaining in the race over 1 1/2 miles on turf. Harp Star, the 3-10 favorite, finished a neck in front of 15-1 Bounce Shasse in the field of 18 3-year-old fillies.

Harp Star was at the back of the field in the early stretch and was checked briefly before closing well to just miss.

Nuovo Record has won 3 of 6 starts for owner and breeder Reiko Hara. By Heart’s Cry, Nuovo Record is trained by Makoto Saito.

The Grade 1 Japanese Oaks was Nuovo Record’s first win of 2014. In 2013, she won a maiden race and an allowance race. She was second to Harp Star in the Grade 3 Tulip Sho Stakes in March in her first start this year.