Star Anise gets tested for distance in Japanese Oaks

Distance may be the only thing preventing Star Anise from winning her third consecutive Grade 1 race in Sunday’s $2.03 million Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.

Star Anise, Japan’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2025, has never raced beyond a mile, the distance of her last two wins, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December and her lone start this year in the Japanese 1000 Guineas. Both were Grade 1 races.

The Japanese Oaks is run at 1 1/2 miles. Star Anise, a winner of 3 of 5 starts, has closed from off the pace in each of her wins, suggesting added distance will not be a concern. The trip is foremost on the mind of her jockey, Kohei Matsuyama.

“She started well last time and ran a good race,” Matsuyama told Japan Racing Association publicists earlier this month. “She’s improved a lot mentally. To be honest, the distance this time may be a bit long, but she has the ability to do well.”

:: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!

Star Anise will try to become the first 2-year-old filly champion to win the Japanese Oaks since Liberty Island in 2023.

Star Anise was the 2-1 favorite as of Friday for the Japanese Oaks, which drew a maximum field of 18. She starts from post 10, an ideal position considering her running style.

The draw was not as favorable for Laughterlines, who was 5-2 on Friday, or Juryoku Pierrot, a 9-2 chance.

Laughterlines drew the outside post, while Juryoku Pierrot starts from post 16.

Laughterlines, a winner of 2 of 5 starts, is a closer. She won a maiden race at 1 1/8 miles at Tokyo last October in her second start, and her last race in the Group 2 Flora Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Tokyo on April 26 in her second start this year.

Juryoku Pierrot, who also runs from off the pace, is unbeaten in two starts at 1 1/4 miles this year – an allowance race in Kyoto in January, and the listed Wasurenagusa Sho Stakes at Hanshin on April 12. She closed from last of 14 to win the April 12 race by 2 1/2 lengths at 17-1.

The Japanese Oaks, formally known as the Yushun Himba, has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.