Kitasan Black Game Kikuka Sho Winner

Kitasan Black gamely drove between horses in the stretch and claimed the final jewel in Japan's Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese St. Leger), Oct. 25 at Kyoto.

 

The Black Tide colt accelerated fastest of all in the final three furlongs and fended off the fierce late charge by Real Steel to win by a neck. Favorite Lia Fail finished a half-length back in third in the 18-horse field after racing with the pacesetter Spirits Minoru.

 

Kitasan Black broke smoothly for Hiroshi Kitamura and hugged the rail in fifth behind behind the two front-runners.

 

Turning for home with Musee Alien in charge, Kitamura made the winning move by guiding the game Kitasan Black through a narrow space between the leader and Lia Fail.

 

Real Steel, second in the Satsuki Sho (Jpn-I, Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) and fourth in the Tokyo Yushun (Jpn-I, Japanese Derby), settled in mid-division early and surged out behind Lia Fail at the top of the stretch. He exerted an impressive kick in the final furlong get past Lia Fail in the final strides but couldn't get to the winner in time.

 

Kitasan Black was timed in 3:03.09 for 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) on firm turf. 

 

"There were concerns over his aptitude for long distances (pedigree-wise) but I wanted to prove that this was wrong, as his form and movements showed that he is suited to long distances," said Hisashi Shimizu, who trains for winning owner, Japanese blues singer Saburo Kitajima (Ono Shoji). "There were horses chasing us on the outside after we took command so I just hoped that he will hold on until the wire."

 

Kitasan Black, bred by Yanagawa Bokujo, is by Japanese group II winner Black Tide (Sunday Silence) and is a year-older full brother to Japanese leading sire Deep Impact. His dam is the unraced Sakura Bakushin O mare Sugar Heart. Second dam, Otome Gokoro, is a half sister to recently deceased California stallion Cee's Tizzy, sire of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner and Central Kentucky sire Tiznow  .

 

Kitasan Black, third in the Japanese Guineas in April, has a 5-0-1 record from seven career starts that includes wins in the Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes (Jpn-II) in March and Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen (Jpn-II) Sept. 21.