Chrono Genesis Much the Best in Takarazuka Kinen

Chrono Genesis showed Japanese racing fans a thing or two in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 28 at Hanshin Racecourse and also showed enough to earn starting spots in both the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and the 100th running of the Ladbrokes W.S. Cox Plate (G1).

The Takarazuka Kinen, the final grade 1 event of the first half of Japan's racing season, is also a "grand prix" in which fans vote their choices for the field. This time around, the homebound punters muddled things a bit as Chrono Genesis, just the sixth choice in the voting but the second choice in the wagering, was far and away the best on the track.

The 4-year-old Bago filly, with Yuichi Kitamura riding, coasted along outside rivals, comfortably behind the pace, as the 18-horse field rolled down the backstretch. Looking eager, Chrono Genesis picked things up without urging around the turn and entered the stretch in a line of five across the course.

She quickly put the others away and strode out to win by six lengths. After a tardy start, Kiseki, last year's runner-up, made up ground to finish second, another five lengths to the good of 100-1 chance Mozu Bello in third.

The favorite, Saturnalia, was fourth as Chrono Genesis completed 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) on good turf in 2:13.50, scoring her second grade 1 win and promising more for the autumn—somewhere in the world.

"The filly broke smoothly, and we were able to travel in good rhythm in good striking position," Kitamura said. "I didn't really have to urge her to go, but she just went spontaneously. She was responding really well, so I knew that she would stretch well in the lane.

"She has become a powerful filly and was in very good condition. She was really strong."

The victory in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race earned Chrono Genesis a berth to the Nov. 7 Turf at Keeneland and a guaranteed spot in the Oct. 24 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. She already is among the futures book favorites for the Australian race.

Last year's Takarazuka Kinen winner, Lys Gracieux, added the Cox Plate—won the four previous years by Winx—and was named Japan's 2019 Horse of the Year.

Chrono Genesis, out of the Kurofune mare Chronologist, was bred by Northern Racing and totes the colors of Sunday Racing. She has showed promise from the start of her career, finishing second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) in 2018 and third in both the grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas) and Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) last year.

She broke through at the top level in the Oct. 13 Shuka Sho (G1) at Kyoto and came into the Takarazuka Kinen off a second-place finish behind Lucky Lilac in the April 5 Osaka Hai (G1). Lucky Lilac, second in the fan voting for the Takarazuka Kinen, led briefly entering the stretch and tired to finish sixth.

The favorite in the balloting, star mare Almond Eye, did not contest the Takarazuka Kinen.

In accordance with COVID-19 precautions, the race was conducted without spectators, and the Japan Racing Association announced the restriction has been extended at least through July 19. The precautions also limited voting for the Takarazuka Kinen to online participation only as off-track wagering locations also remain shuttered.