Inti Speeds to February Stakes Victory

Inti blasted out of the gate in the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse, quickly established the lead, and ran on to win his seventh straight race and first at the top level Feb. 17.

With Yutaka Take handling the reins, the 5-year-old son of Came Home held a substantial lead through the stretch before Gold Dream, the 2017 February Stakes winner and last year's runner-up, mounted a late challenge that fell a neck short. It was another four lengths back to Yuranoto in third.

Inti finished the 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:35.60 to clinch the "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

"The horse broke well, and we were able to take the lead and set an ideal pace," Take said. "He was a bit too eager in the post parade, and I was worried that he had used up his energy. But we secured a safe lead at the last turn, and he showed amazing strength to the wire.

"He has so much potential. We have a lot to look forward to in his future starts," added Take, who landed his fifth February Stakes victory and 76th overall Japan Racing Association grade 1 win.

The February Stakes and the Champions Cup, formerly the Japan Cup Dirt, are the country's two top-level events on the dirt.

Despite facing such proven top-level competition as Gold Dream, Inti went to post as the favorite in his first grade 1 race. After a career-opening loss, the chestnut posted his maiden win June 11, 2017, at Hanshin and advanced slowly up the class ladder. His first start in a graded stakes came Jan. 20 at Chukyo, where he won the Tokai Hai Tokai Stakes (G2). He has raced exclusively on the dirt.

Nanako Fujita became the first Japanese female jockey to ride in a grade 1 event and finished fifth on Copano Kicking in the February Stakes. The Spring At Last gelding trailed early, went wide on the turn, and had too much to do late, but he was only beaten by six lengths.

"I am truly grateful to all who made it possible for myself to ride in this race," Fujita said. "I have experienced this course numerous times before. but today everything looked totally different."