Major Emblem Takes Division Title at Hanshin

Description: 
Race favorite Major Emblem stamped herself Japan's champion 2-year-old filly of 2015 in capturing the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (Jpn-I) Dec. 13 at Hanshin Racecourse. 
 
Ridden by Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, the Daiwa Major filly grabbed the lead in the stretch after and drew away to a two-length triumph over longshot Win Fabulous. Hakodate Nisai (Jpn-III) winner Blanc Bonheur was third in the full field of 18. 
 
Breaking from post 2, Major Emblem was hustled up to stalk the leader in second to third, hugging the rail down the backstretch. After easily grabbing the lead into the stretch, she ran on strongly to the finish line and completed the 1,600-meter (about one mile) trip in 1:34.05 on firm turf, earning her first group victory.
 
"She surprisingly broke very well and I'm glad we drew an inner stall," Lemaire commented in Japanese. "She is easy to ride and was relaxed today. She ran strongly to the finish line and I'm very happy we were able to claim the group I race. She's an amazing filly and I'm sure she'll do well in the classics."
 
Win Fabulous, a bit keen in the early stages and traveling wide in midpack, showed a strong late charge off the final turn, rallied past rivals down the straight, and was up for second 100 meters out.
 
Blanc Bonheur also took a wide trip behind Win Fabulous early on and while struggling to keep pace with the runner-up in the stretch, kicked on to hold off Peptide Supple in a battle for third.
 
Major Emblem, who is trained by Yasurhito Tamua, improved her record to 3-1-0 from four starts that include a  neck second in the Artemis Stakes (Jpn-III), in which the winner of that race, Denko Ange, was seventh in Sunday's event.
 
Bred by Northern Farm and campaigned by Sunday Racing Co., Major Emblem is out of the winning Opera House mare Catchy Title. Third dam, Her Ladyship, was runner-up in the 1994 Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks).