Snow Dragon Shocks Japan's Sprinters Stakes

Snow Dragon scored a major upset in the $1.9 million Sprinters Stakes (Jpn-I) in a light rain at Japan's Niigata Racecourse Oct. 5, registering his first graded victory.



It was also the first grade I victory for veteran trainer Noboru Takagi and jockey Takuya Ono, who drove the 6-year-old son of Admire Cozzene to a half-length tally as a 46-1 outsider in the field of 18.



The final time for the 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) over firm turf was 1:08.8. Second choice Straight Girl was second, a head better than Red Oval. Favored Hakusan Moon finished 13th after leading briefly at the start and giving way late.



The Sprinters Stakes is the eighth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.



Snow Dragon, who competed mainly on dirt until this season, broke from the extreme outside stall and raced wide in the back half of the field led through the early fractions by Dasher Go Go. Turning for home, Snow Dragon found a smooth part of a course that had been chopped up considerably due to earlier wet weather. The gray horse reached contention as one of several in a line in the homestretch and eventually inched away from the pack for a narrow victory.



“I was thinking of reserving him behind, but he settled further up in front than I had imagined and was able to change leads smoothly for the stretch run. I am extremely pleased and happy about that we were able to win this race,” said Ono.



Straight Girl showed good acceleration in the stretch after being angled toward the inside between horses, but could not match the winner in the final strides while winning a photo for second over Red Oval.



Owned by Makio Okada, Snow Dragon ran second earlier this season in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Jpn-I) at 1,200 meters and was most recently eighth in the Keeneland Cup (Jpn-III). The winner was bred in Japan by Meiwa Iwami Bokujo out of the Tayasu Tsuyoshi mare Meine Caprice.



Snow Dragon won for the eighth time in 35 lifetime starts.