Red Falx Finds Second Gear at Nakayama

Tokyo Horseracing Co.'s Red Falx ran down pacesetter Mikki Isle late to earn a narrow win in the Sprinters Stakes (Jpn-I), a Breeder' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Turf Sprint division, at Nayakama.

Mikki Isle, Solveig, and Shuji showed the way early, while Mirco Demuro settled Red Falx in midfield down the backstretch before moving him to improve position rounding the final turn. The first group I winner for U.S. grade I-winning sprinter/miler Swept Overboard, Red Falx hit the top of the stretch with nearly half of the field in front of him, but found renewed energy in the final sixteenth to overtake Mikki Isle in the shadow of the post and score by a head, landing his first top-level success. 

Swept Overboard's son Pas de Trois finished second in the 2011 Sprinters Stakes.

Red Falx, trained by Tomohito Ozeki, finished 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1:07.60 on turf rated as firm, winning for the eighth time from 18 career starts.

"The horse was very relaxed today," Dimuro said. "We broke from a wide stall (13) and since he doesn't respond that well, we launched our bid early—from the third corner—and after that he just stretched well. I've won all three races I've ever been on him, which makes us a terrific team."

Red Falx, a winner on both turf and dirt, posted his first graded win with Dimuro last time out in the CBC Sho (Jpn-III) on turf at Chukyo July 3 after running on dirt in each of his other four starts of this season.

"When I first rode him at Chukyo in 2014, I never imagined he would develop the way he has. He was really tough today," Dimuro said of the horse bred by Shadai Farm from the Sunday Silence mare Vermouth, a full sister to former Japanese 2-year-old champion filly Stinger.

Making his second appearance in the Sprinters Stakes after a six-month break since his second to Big Arthur in the March 27 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Jpn-I), Mikki Isle set the pace, leading by a length or two at one point, only to be caught at the finish line.

Three-year-old filly Solveig finished third while favorite Big Arthur encountered traffic and came in 12th.