Lei Papale Upsets Contrail in Osaka Hai

Lei Papale skipped through the rain and over the yielding Hanshin Racecourse turf to post an upset win April 4 in the Osaka Hai (G1) as progeny of the late Deep Impact filled three of the first four slots.

Among the vanquished was Contrail, the reigning Japanese Triple Crown champion who was making his first start since losing his undefeated record while second to Almond Eye  in the Japan Cup (G1) in November. Local fans were looking to the 4-year-old to replace the retired Almond Eye as the next Japanese star.

Instead, it was Lei Papale retaining her perfect record after six outings, flashing prospects for the remainder of the season.

The conditions played a role in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Osaka Hai. Lei Papale broke sideways but quickly sprinted to the lead during the first run down the homestretch. The 4-year-old filly skimmed the rail until the field entered the final turn, easing out to the middle of the course.

Mozu Bello , Contrail, and Gran Alegria  all tried to mount a challenge but struggled through the deep going. Lei Papale, by contrast, seemed to love the conditions and drew off to win by four lengths, finishing in 2:01.6. Mozu Bello outfinished Contrail for second.

Lei Papale, Contrail, and fourth-place finisher Gran Alegria, a three-time grade 1 winner in 2020, all are by Deep Impact, who died July 30, 2019.

"I had always believed in her outstanding talent since her debut," said winning rider Yuga Kawada. "But, of course, it was a tough ask this time against a top-class field. To still have the strength to find another gear over the turf conditions today—she is an exceptional filly to keep her speed right to the end.

"Now that she's a grade 1 winner, expectations will suddenly be quite high from now on," Kawada added. "But I hope to be able to bring out her best in each race."

Lei Papale made her 4-year-old debut in the Osaka Hai after winning all five starts as a 3-year-old and Kawada hinted before the race he was high on the filly despite the depth of the competition.

"There's a lot to look forward to with her, and not least of all here, where she gets to take on great horses like Contrail and Gran Alegria. It'll be interesting," Kawada predicted, accurately.

Lei Papale, a daughter of Deep Impact out of the Kurofune  mare Shells Lei, was bred by Northern Racing and campaigns in the silks of U Carrot Farm. Tomokazu Takano trains.

She won at three different tracks during 2020 and at distances from 1,600 meters (about one mile) to 2,000 meters, the latter the distance of her sophomore finale, the Challenge Cup (G3), also at Hanshin. Four of her previous starts came on firm turf, and one on a good-rated course.