By US Racing Team
With a mighty surge on the outside around the turn for home, Equinox swept past his rivals in the stretch and won the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse on Sunday.
The 4-year-old colt is the top-rated horse in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, and certainly lived up to expectations with a neck victory over longshot Through Seven Seas.
Equinox, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, raced near the rear of the 17-horse field, and began moving up on the outside heading into the final two turns. When the field hit the stretch, Lemaire asked Equinox for more, and the champion delivered for his fourth straight Group 1 victory.
Owned by Silk Racing Co. Ltd., the 3-10 favorite earned an automatic berth, with all fees paid, into the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita in November through the BC’s Win and You’re In series.
Unicorn set the pace for the first mile of the 1 3/-8-mile race over turf listed good to firm. Equinox, Japan’s 2022 Horse of the Year, broke well from post 5, but was eased back for an outside trip. He took the lead with about 200 meters to go, and held off the challenge of Through Seven Seas.
Justin Palace, the second choice in the field, finished third.
“Though we were unable to get a good position toward the front due to the fast pace at the beginning, the horse was relaxed in the rear, and I wasn’t worried at all,” Lemaire said. “As the inner track condition was not so good, we made a bid from the outside early and turned wide to the straight where he stretched really well.
In his first race of 2023, Equinox won the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan by 3 ¾ lengths, leading from start to finish in the 1 1/2 miles and setting a course record.
Track conditions on Sunday called for a different strategy.
“Hanshin’s inner course is tricky and Takarazuka Kinen is a difficult race to win even for champion horses, so I’m very happy that I was able to win the race with the No. 1 horse … I realized again how strong he is.”
Equinox, trained by Tetsuya Kimura, has a 7-5-2-0 career record and earnings of $9,516,220.
Take Two Phil’s, call in the morning
Trainer Larry Rivelli was initially feeling pretty good the day after Two Phil’s ran away with the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown on June 25. Until he wasn’t and the colt was on his way to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington less than 24 hours later for treatment of an ankle injury.
The seriousness of the injury wasn’t known as of late Sunday, but the son of Hard Spun is expected to undergo surgery sometime in the next day or so. Unfortunately it is expected to keep Two Phil’s sidelined for the rest of the year, if not retired, which is more likely than not.
Another young horse is potential unfulfilled.
After a solid runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6, Rivelli chose to bring Two Phil’s home to Hawthorne and skip the Preakness (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). His choice: Stay close to home and go with the Ohio Derby.
Two Phil’s ($3.20) went off as the 3-5 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race. On the far turn jockey Gerardo Corrales (subbing for the injured Jareth Loveberry), made his move and son of Hard Spun turned on the burners, passing Bishops Bay and pace-setter Henry Q and winning by 5 ¾ lengths. Bishops Bay, trained by Brad Cox, was second and Hayes Strike third. Winning time was 1:49.60.
Two Phil’s has a career record of 10-5-2-1 and earnings of $1,583,450.