Six Undefeated 2-Year-Olds in Asahi Hai Futurity

Six horses from a deep field of 2-year-olds will be undefeated as they're sent on their way Dec. 19 in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, one of them a multimillion-dollar purchase for an enthusiastic new owner.

It hasn't always worked out that way for the winners of this 1,600-meter (about 1 mile) event but some recent victors certainly have made names for themselves.

Salios won the 2019 Futurity and went on to finish second in both the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas-G1) and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Derby-G1) the following year. Admire Mars, the 2018 hero, won the NHK Mile Cup (G1) and the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) in 2019.

This year's undefeated entrants are Dobune, by Deep Impact ; Serifos, by Daiwa Major; Geoglyph, by Drefong ; Danon Scorpion, a son of Lord Kanaloa ; Do Duce, by Heart's Cry ; and Sprit the Sea, a filly by Deep Impact.

All are 2-for-2 except Serifos, who has three wins, and Sprit the Sea, who won her only previous start.

Many eyes will be on Dobune. Out of the Footstepsinthesand  mare Premier Steps , he brought just over ¥517.1 million (about US$4.55 million), topping the Chiba 2-year-old sale by a wide margin, according to the Japan Bloodstock Information System. He has done nothing wrong in his two starts and won the Kikyo Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse in his second start by 1 1/2 lengths.

"He's an intelligent horse and knows a lot already, as well as being quite relaxed," said Dobune's trainer, Koshiro Take. "He can certainly take on a grade 1 with the ability he shows, although he will need to run to his best." 

Dobune was bred by Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm and races in the red-and-white colors of Susumu Fujita, CEO of a firm providing internet, television and games for smartphones. A longtime racing fan, Fujita has jumped boldly into the ownership ranks this year and Dobune is his first winner. 

Serifos has won both the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3) and the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2) in his three starts. Cristian Demuro has been booked for the ride for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, who won the race last year with Grenadier Guards.

Demuro said Serifos is "calm mentally, and it feels like he's capable of anything. He's already shown he's a good horse and, if that wasn't the case, he wouldn't have already won three races."

Geoglyph won at first asking in June at Tokyo Racecourse, then stepped up to take the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3) over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Sapporo in September. Japan's leading jockey, Christophe Lemaire, rode in both those races and returns.

Danon Scorpion's two wins both came at Hanshin, including the Hagi Stakes in October. Both were at 1,800 meters. Do Deuce won on debut at Kokura in September and repeated the Listed Ivy Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo Racecourse the following month.

While attention will be focused on the undefeated runners, neither that credential nor favorite's status on the tote board always signifies success in the Futurity. Logotype  was victorious in 2012 at odds of 34-1 after winning just two of five previous starts and had a long and satisfactory international career that included two more group 1 victories.