White Filly Sodashi Captures Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Sodashi showed a will to win as pure as her all-white coat in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) Dec. 13, overcoming traffic issues to eke out her fourth consecutive victory in the final strides over Satono Reinas in a Japanese thriller.

Sodashi, a daughter of Kurofune out of the black-on-white mare Buchiko, raced in touch with the early pace down the backstretch and through the turn. Caught behind rivals at that point, jockey Hayato Yoshida found a narrow opening and steered Sodashi through.

Just as Sodashi appeared headed to the lead and victory, Satono Reinas, who tracked the white rival all the way under Christophe Lemaire, burst through on the inside to grab a narrow advantage. With a final surge, Sodashi just got a nose in front under the wire. Urberleben was third, and Meikei Yell finished fourth.

Sodashi, trained by Naosuke Sugai for owner/breeder Kaneko Makoto Holdings, finished the 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:33.1.

She became the first officially white horse to win a Japanese grade 1 race and is the likely candidate for year-end honors in the juvenile fillies division.

There were a few tense moments before the start as Sodashi was reluctant to enter gate 6. She nonetheless broke well and entered the flow of the race smoothly.

"Going into the race as favorite was a bit of a load, but I'm thrilled with the outcome," Yoshida said. "She hated to even go near the gate, but I'm relieved that all went well and that we were able to be positioned just as I hoped. The going affected her good turn of foot, but she gave all she had."

Japan has seen a long string of fillies and mares take the spotlight in open grade 1 races, and her connections hope Sodashi, already a fan favorite because of her stunning appearance, can take up that baton.

"There is room for improvement," said Yoshida, who notched just his second grade 1 win and first since 2015. "I hope we can get her ready for next year's classics."

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies has been a springboard to glory. Past winners include subsequent Japanese Horses of the Year Vodka and Buena Vista. The 2009 winner, Apapane, went on to win the fillies Triple Crown the following year. 

Sodashi won at first asking in July at Hakodate Racecourse. Stepping immediately into graded stakes, she went on to win the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3) in September and the Artemis Stakes (G3) at Tokyo Racecourse Oct. 31.

Satono Reinas, a Deep Impact filly, also entered the Hanshin fray undefeated. She won her first start at Tokyo Racecourse in June, then won the Saffron Sho at Nakayama Oct. 4. Meikei Yell, too, suffered her first defeat after three wins.