Clarity Sky Denies KY-Bred Filly in NHK Mile
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Clarity Sky ran down previously-unbeaten Kentucky-bred filly Albiano late and won the NHK Mile (Jpn-I) for 3-year-olds May 10 at Tokyo.
The son of Kurofune drew even with the front-running filly 100 meters out and surged clear to a one-length triumph while finishing in 1:33.50 on firm turf. Musee Sultan was third, a neck back in the field of 18.
Fifth in the Satsuki Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) at 1 1/4 miles April 19, Clarity Sky earned his first stakes win last year going the NHK Mile distance and again was effective when cutting back in trip from the Guineas.
Sitting just off the pace in fourth to fifth and two-wide, Clarity Sky began his run down the straight in pursuit of Albiano, who took charge from pacesetter Ren England off the final turn. She extended her lead to two lengths before Clarity Sky nixed a victory in the closing stages with a sustained rally.
"The pace was pretty slow up to the fourth corner and the colt was so keen to go—it was tough, but I was able to hold him in an ideal position," winning rider Norihiro Yokoyama said. "He's won in record time here, so as long as his condition was good, I was confident he had a good chance today. I'm sure he will improve more seeing how he raced today at his young age."
Flower Cup (Jpn-III) winner Albiano, a Harlan's Holiday filly bred by Helen Alexander and Helen Groves and purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-olds in training sale, gamely held back strong-closing Musee Sultan, the second choice to keep second. Race favorite Grand Silk raced in mid-division and closed well after finding running room in the center of the track, but lacked the final kick, finishing fifth.
Clarity Sky, trained by Yasuo Tomomichi for Tadakuni Sugiyama, has a 3-1-1 record from eight starts, including the 2014 Icho Stakes at Tokyo. Bred by the Taiki Clarity Partnership, he was produced by the winning Special Week mare Taiki Clarity, who also is the dam of multiple group-placed stakes winner Clarity City, by King Kamehameha. He RNA'd at the 2012 JHRA select weanling sale when offered by Paca Paca Farm, agent.