Japan's Sprinters Stakes Offers Breeders' Cup Berth

Top-level racing returns to Japan Sept. 29 at Nakayama Racecourse as a diverse cast of speedsters chases a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in the Sprinters Stakes (G1).

Danon Smash, a 4-year-old colt by 2012 and 2013 Sprinters Stakes winner Lord Kanaloa, is the likely favorite in a field of 16. He has six wins from 13 starts, and four of those wins came at this 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) distance. Danon Smash was last seen winning the Keeneland Cup (G3) from an outside draw Aug. 25 at Sapporo, and leading rider Yuga Kawada has the mount.

Trainer Takayuki Yasuda hinted after the barrier draw that a Danon Smash victory could have international implications.

"He's certainly become better as a 4-year-old," Yasuda said. "He reminds me of his sire now, and it would be good to win a grade 1 in similar fashion and then look to overseas with him."

A win would qualify Danon Smash for the Nov. 2  Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

"There are a lot of fast horses in the race," the trainer added. "But he won cleverly last time, and I think he can get himself into a good position at the final turn again and take on the closing stages of the race aggressively."

Tower of London, second in the Keeneland Cup, could pose a serious threat. The Raven's Pass colt rebounded from the Sapporo defeat to win the Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Hanshin by three lengths Sept. 8, finishing in 1:06.7. That time equaled Lord Kanaloa's best effort in the Sprinters Stakes.

"He was very strong in the Centaur Stakes, and he goes up another level here," jockey Christophe Lemaire said. "Even though Danon Smash is a good horse, Tower of London must have a chance."

Mr Melody could become just the sixth horse to win both the Takamatsunomia Kinen (G1) and the Sprinters Stakes in the same year. The Kentucky-bred 4-year-old son of Scat Daddy enters off a fading eighth-place finish in the Centaur Stakes—his first effort since the Takamatsunomia Kinen.

The field also includes 2017 Takamatsunomia Kinen winner Seiun Kosei, who has had little success over the Nakayama course, and Mozu Superflare, who seems to love the layout. Mozu Superflare, a Kentucky-bred Speightstown  filly, has three wins and one second from four 1,200-meter starts at Nakayama. She was, however, a well-beaten 15th in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

A couple of promising 3-year-olds take a class jump into the race. Fantasist, another son of up-and-coming sire Lord Kanaloa, exits a second in the Centaur Stakes. And Dirndl, a Rulership filly, has five wins and two seconds from seven starts.