Sprinters Stakes Brings G1 Racing Back to Japan

Grade 1 racing returns in Japan Oct. 3 with speedsters on display at Nakayama Racecourse in the Sprinters Stakes (G1).

With last year's winner, Gran Alegria , bypassing this event in favor of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1), Danon Smash  and Resistencia take center stage in the 1,200-meter (about 6 furlongs) event.

Danon Smash, a 6-year-old son of race record-holder Lord Kanaloa , and Resistencia, a 4-year-old filly by Daiwa Major , finished 1-2 in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) in the springtime.

Resistencia returned to action with a victory in the Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Chukyo Sept. 12 while Danon Smash has been idle since finishing a disappointing sixth in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) in Hong Kong April 25.

The trainers of both said their charges now seem ready to resume serious competition.

Danon Smash's trainer, Takayuki Yasuda, said he is "expecting a big run from him.

"He's probably better now as a 6-year-old, and his condition is certainly as good as it was for his other runs in the Sprinters Stakes," Yasuda said of Danon Smash. "He's becoming like his father (Lord Kanaloa). It's been a while since he won this year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen, but he generally shows his best in a grade 1 and his condition is such that he can do his best again here. I'm expecting a big run from him."

Yuga Kawada will ride the likely favorite and commented, "I think he's much stronger than when he was younger, and he's a horse that gives it his all."

Resistencia, too, is on the upswing, according to trainer Takeshi Matsushita.

 "She ran well last time over 1,200 meters, and I feel she's getting stronger mentally," Matsushita said. "She came out of that last race well, and I think she will be just right going into this next one too.

"Given that she hadn't run for a while when she raced last time, she should improve for that run, and it seems to be that way looking at her condition," Matsushita added.

Pixie Knight, a promising 3-year-old son of Maurice, comes off a second in the Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) and gets a weight break here and jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said he's interested in seeing how the colt handles the tougher competition.

"He's still a young horse, and has raced over 1,200 meters just twice," Fukunaga said. "But he's done well, particularly in a graded race for the first time. It's never easy. It'll be a tough challenge, but it'll be interesting to see how he does, getting into new challenges."

The Sprinters Stakes starts on the Nakayama outside backstretch and runs right-handed around one sweeping turn with a final sharp bend into the stretch. There is a steep rise through the final 200 meters before the wire.

Sixteen are entered for the race.