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Do Deuce Puts Away Favorite in Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

Third favorite Do Deuce claimed this year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and has become an undefeated champion two-year-old miler—the colt won his debut start (1,800m) in September and his next Ivy Stakes (Listed, 1,800m) start in October. For trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, this is his second Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes victory following the 2018 version with Admire Mars, and his 14th overall JRA-G1 win—his latest was with World Premiere in this year’s Tenno Sho (Spring). Jockey Yutaka Take celebrates his first Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes title in his 22nd challenge, and his 78th JRA-G1 win—his latest was with World Premiere in the 2019 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). Among the 24 flat JRA-G1 races, Take is just one title short, the year-end Hopeful Stakes that was upgraded to G1 status in 2017.

Do Deuce traveled wide and in mid-pack after breaking from stall nine, ran down the middle of the straight with the tied fastest late speed tagging Serifos after the furlong marker and battled stride for stride finally shaking off the stubborn favorite in the final strides to win by half a length.

“Do Deuce is an honest colt. We were able to run in a good position and in good rhythm while observing the others. He responded well going into the straight and although the favorite was stubborn and hard to beat, he dug in remarkably all the way to the line. He’s getting stronger by every race—we can look forward to the spring classics next year. (Asked about his long-awaited first Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes title) I’m so happy—at last! It’s been a while since my last G1 victory which makes the win even sweeter. I hope I can make the (flat-G1 race) sweep next week in the Hopeful Stakes,” commented Yutaka Take.

Race favorite Serifos broke well and was keen to press the pace but was held back, settling in fifth to sixth before the final turns. With a good turn of foot, the Daiwa Major colt ran strongly in the center of the lane, took over the lead after a brief duel with Toshin Macau but surrendered after putting up a good fight against the eventual winner for second place.

Fourth pick Danon Scorpion broke sharply, eased back to eighth and after angling out at the top of the stretch, launched a late drive chasing Do Deuce and Serifos but failed to threaten, finishing third while putting a good 1-3/4-length margin between himself and the rest of the field.

Other Horses:
4th: (3) Al Naseem—was off slow, saved ground around 12th, showed effort until overtaken by top finishers
5th: (13) Geoglyph—unhurried in 14th, angled out, showed belated charge
6th: (12) Toshin Macau—chased leaders around 3rd, took a brief lead before 200m pole, outrun
7th: (11) Dobune—ran 4-wide around 12th, passed tired rivals at stretch
8th: (8) Purpur Ray—tracked leader around 3rd, rallied for lead, weakened in last 200m
9th: (14) Tudo de Bom—stalked leader in 2nd, remained in contention up to 200m pole
10th: (10) Sprit the Sea—traveled 3-wide around 10th, even paced
11th: (5) Via Dolorosa—settled around 10th behind eventual winner, unable to reach contention
12th: (6) Otaru Ever—sat around 5th, circled wide, showed little at stretch
13th: (2) Sekkachi Cane—took economic trip around 5th, outrun in stretch
14th: (1) Kaju Faith—set pace, faded after passing 300m marker
15th: (15) Sin Limites—far rear throughout trip, no factor

THE 73RD ASAHI HAI FUTURITY STAKES (G1)
2-year-olds, Colts & Fillies, 1,600 meters (about 8 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, December 19, 2021     Hanshin Racecourse          11th Race      Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 152,200,000 (about US$ 1,450,000 <US$1=¥105>)
2-y-o: 55kg (about 121 lbs),
1 kg allowance for Fillies, 3 kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2019
Course Record: 1:32.3              Race Record: 1:32.3 [Grenadier Guards (JPN, by Frankel), 2020]
Safety factor: 18 runners           Going: Good to Firm         Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 15,173,632,000       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 24,656,000,000       Attendance: 6,124

Winner= 3 starts, 3 wins / Added money: ¥ 71,106,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 95,274,000

* Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)

Races for two-year-olds were held for the first time in 1946 at Tokyo. As the number of contenders increased, championship races—the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (predecessor to the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes) and the Hanshin Sansai Stakes (predecessor to the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies)—which determined the top two-year-olds of the season in eastern and western Japan, respectively, were established in 1949. In conjunction with the new grading system implemented, the two races were designated G1 status in 1984. In 1991, the two races were divided by gender into two separate G1 events; the Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes for two-year-old fillies and the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings, then renamed “Hanshin Juvenile Fillies” and “Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes”, respectively, in 2001. Since 2004, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes has been limited to non-gelded colts and fillies. The race, which started off as a 1,100-meter sprint, was extended to 1,200 meters in 1959 and again to 1,600 meters in 1962. In 2010, the race was opened to foreign runners. Due to the restructured racing program for two-year-olds, the venue was transferred from Nakayama to Hanshin Racecourse, the same location as the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, in 2014.
2018 winner Admire Mars (JPN, by Daiwa Major) was named Best Two-Year-Old Colt and continued with G1 successes in the NHK Mile Cup and the Hong Kong Mile in 2019.
This year’s edition featured five undefeated colts who scored two or more wins; Geoglyph and Dobune, respective victors of the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,800m, Sep.4) and the Kikyo Stakes (Open Class, 1,400m, Oct.2); Do Deuce and Danon Scorpion who came off their second win in the listed IVY Stakes (1,800m, Oct.23) and the Hagi Stakes (1,800m, Oct.30), respectively; and Serifos, the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,600m) and the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,600m, Nov.13) champion. The field also included Purpur Ray, winner of the Aster Sho (1 Win Class, 1,600m), Kaju Faith and Otaru Ever who came off wins in the Momiji Stakes (Open Class, 1,400m, Oct.17) and the Shumeigiku Sho (1 Win Class, 1,400m, Nov.21), respectively, and Toshin Macau, runner-up of the Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,400m, Nov.6).