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Vodka hangs on in Japan Cup thriller
Vodka's loyalists sent her off as the 7-2 favorite at Tokyo, even though the more steely-eyed experts had expressed some reservations. She had not won at this about 1 1/2-mile trip since her historic score in the 2007 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Jpn-G1), so questions loomed about her preferred distance. Moreover, Vodka was coming off two straight defeats in the Mainichi Okan (Jpn-G2) and Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1). In the wake of those reverses, Sumii made the call for a rider switch, replacing Yutaka Take with France's Lemaire. Sumii believes that this decision played a role in her victory. "Stretching her out has always been the issue with her," Sumii said. "The change in jockeys definitely had something to do with it, but Lemaire happened to be free and it was my decision. "We had trained her toward the extra furlongs in this race, but I had requested the jockey to keep up in a good position not far from the pace. It may have paid off to have a rider who was unaware of her being a bit keen -- he rode her well." Vodka was forwardly placed in fourth in the early going, in accordance with Sumii's pre-race instructions to Lemaire. Asakusa Kings (White Muzzle [GB]) showed the way passing the stands for the first time, but the free-wheeling sophomore Reach the Crown (Special Week) was happy to take over the front runner's role entering the first turn. Eishin Deputy (French Deputy) tracked in third, ahead of Vodka. Far back in the latter part of the 18-horse field was two-time Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani), the nearly 5-1 third choice, who got away a step slowly. Oken Bruce Lee, the 9-2 second choice, loped even farther behind in 15th. The leaders maintained their positions until turning into the demanding homestretch, when Eishin Deputy launched his bid for glory and Reach the Crown and Asakusa Kings began to weaken. At the same time, defending Japan Cup champion Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) tried to mount a challenge from off the pace. Meanwhile, Lemaire still sat motionless on Vodka, waiting to unleash her at the right moment. When Lemaire urged her onward in midstretch, Vodka's response was instantaneous. She accelerated clear of the field and opened up by daylight, thrilling her legions of supporters with the promise of a smashing victory. Farther out, though, down the center of the course came the white face of Oken Bruce Lee. Despite fanning out extremely wide at the top of the stretch, when he was dead last in the throng of horses, Oken Bruce Lee soon gathered eye-catching momentum. As Vodka's stride began to shorten ever so slightly inside the final furlong, Oken Bruce Lee leveled off and gained rapidly on the mare. Devouring the ground with each and every stride, he soon drew alongside Vodka's flank and appeared ready to collar her in the dying strides. Vodka summoned her last ounce of strength and reached for the line, but Oken Bruce Lee was now on even terms as they crossed the wire. After several nerve-wracking moments of uncertainty, the photo-finish camera revealed that Vodka had hung on by an official margin of two centimeters. The final time was an electric 2:22.40 on firm turf, the third-fastest Japan Cup in history. "When I was asked to ride Vodka, I was surprised, happy and honored to have been chosen to ride the champion," Lemaire said. "I had the impression that she was a mare with special qualities ever since seeing her win the Derby (Tokyo Yushun) and the way she handled both the mile to 1 1/2-mile distance -- that is a sign of great quality -- and it is no wonder that she is loved by the public and the racing circle alike. "I was able to start from a very good draw which allowed me to place her in a very good position, and Yutaka Take (aboard Reach the Crown) set a nice pace which enabled me to have the mare relaxed during the trip. She was all ready to go at the head of the stretch, but knowing that the 2,400 meters was an extra distance for her, I kept her in hand until the last 1 1/2 furlongs. "I knew that the last 100 meters was going to be the toughest and also acknowledged a strong charge coming from behind, so I gave her the whip and prayed her to hold on and she did, which proves what a fantastic mare she is.
Sumii likewise found winning his first Japan Cup an emotional experience. "It was a close race and I was left in suspense," her trainer said. "It was very moving for me, as well as the stable staff, to be able to share the glorious outcome in this race -- even though many are the times when hard work does not end with a victory. The Japan Cup was a race which inspired me to choose my career, so the victory in this race is very special for me." The top two had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over the three-year-old filly Red Desire (Manhattan Cafe), who rallied for third. Conduit stayed on resolutely for fourth, another 1 1/4 lengths back, in his final career start. "(Conduit) broke poorly -- he didn't respond as he usually does," regular rider Ryan Moore said. "He may have been tired not having enough time from his last start (the November 7 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita)." Air Shady (Sunday Silence) checked in fifth, while Eishin Deputy tired to sixth. Just as Well (A.P. Indy) finished best of the Americans in seventh, trailed by Meiner Kitz (Chief Bearhart), Reach the Crown, Never Bouchon (Marvelous Sunday), English raider Scintillo (Fantastic Light), Cosmo Bulk (Zagreb), Screen Hero, Inti Raimi (Special Week), American shipper Interpatation (Langfuhr), Asakusa Kings, American shipper Marsh Side (Gone West) and Yamanin Kingly (Agnes Digital). Vodka has now amassed more than $15.4 million in earnings from her 25-10-5-3 record. With seven Grade 1 titles on her resume, she has equaled the feat of such past Japanese luminaries as Symboli Rudolf, T. M. Opera O and Deep Impact -- all winners of the Japan Cup themselves. Vodka's first Grade 1 coup came in the 2006 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, a victory that earned her champion two-year-old filly honors. At three, she became the first filly in more than six decades to capture the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). Although that was her only top-level triumph of 2007, she also captured the Tulip Sho (Jpn-G3), placed second in the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas) (Jpn-G1) and finished third in the Shuka Sho. Vodka wrapped up the 2008 Horse of the Year and champion older mare titles on the strength of two major scores over males. Successful in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) at a metric mile in early summer, she later added the about 1 1/4-mile Tenno Sho (Autumn) to her portfolio. Vodka's season also included a pair of close seconds in the Victoria Mile and Mainichi Okan, as well as a solid fourth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1). She began her 2009 with two unplaced efforts back at Nad al Sheba, a desperately unlucky fifth when lacking room in the Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) and a disappointing seventh after chasing the pace in the Dubai Duty Free. She rebounded handsomely next time out versus fellow distaffers in the Victoria Mile (Jpn-G1), romping by seven lengths, and followed up with a dramatic title defense in the Yasuda Kinen. Bottled up in traffic until deep stretch, she muscled her way through to win in the shadow of the post. Vodka was then freshened over the summer and did not reappear until October, when she set the pace in the Mainichi Okan and was reeled in by Company. She had a very different trip in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), her prep for the Japan Cup. Held up well off the pace, she got stuck in traffic and wound up third to Company. Bred by Country Bokujo in Japan, Vodka is out of the winning Tanino Sister (Rousillon). She comes from the family of Japanese champion three-year-old filly Sister Tosho (Tosho Boy), queen of the 1991 Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas). Vodka's bleeding incident in the Japan Cup has ruled her out of the December 27 Arima Kinen (Jpn-G1), and future plans for the champion are pending. "I think we're nearing the time where we have to make some kind of decision," Tanimizu said. "It's all up to the horse, but we just always try to take it one race at a time. "Her plans from now on will be decided only after I discuss the matter with my trainer and the staff, who knows her best, and has the ability to acknowledge when the time (to decide when she's had enough) comes."
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