Lord Kanaloa sets course record in Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Japanese champion Lord Kanaloa captured the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen,

the nation's premier early-season sprint, in a course-record 1:08.1 for about

six furlongs at Chukyo Sunday. Owned by Lord Horse Club and trained by Takayuki

Yasuda, the heavy favorite was recording his fourth straight victory.

A close third to now-retired stablemate Curren Chan here a year ago, Lord

Kanaloa turned the proverbial corner last fall. The son of King Kamehameha

landed the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes (also in record time at Nakayama) and Group

1 Hong Kong Sprint to clinch the champion sprinter or miler title. Sunday's coup

makes him the first Japanese-trained horse to score three wins at the top level

in sprints.

Lord Kanaloa, who warmed up with a victory in the Grade 3 Hankyu Hai on

February 24, was reserved well off the pace by regular rider Yasunari Iwata. Up

front, longshot Hakusan Moon led the way under pressure from Memorial Year.

Sakura Gospel traveled wide in midpack in the 17-horse field, while second

choice Dream Valentino was held up farther back, in the slipstream of Lord

Kanaloa.

Entering the far turn, Lord Kanaloa smoothly improved his position among

horses, and by the time the sprinters had straightened up for home, he was

squarely in the hunt. The champion uncorked a sustained bid over the length of

the uphill stretch, overwhelming Hakusan Moon with about a sixteenth to go and

drew off by 1 1/4 lengths.

Dream Valentino also finished strongly to nip Hakusan Moon, who held on well

until the end with great tenacity. Sakura Gospel, who had loomed boldly

alongside the pacesetter at the head of the stretch, wound up fourth. Next came

Dasher Go Go, Majin Prosper, Sugino Endeavour, Fifth Petal, San Carlo, Memorial

Year, I Love Riri, Tsurumaru Leon, Silk Fortune, Epice Arome, Admire Sceptre,

Monstre and Mikino Banjo.

Lord Kanaloa's resume now reads 15-10-4-1, ¥530,650,900.

The winner of the Grade 3 Keihan Hai and Aoi Stakes in 2011, he opened 2012 with

a 2 1/2-length tally in the Grade 3 Silk Road. After his third in the

Takamatsunomiya Kinen, he missed narrowly in both the Grade 3 Hakodate Sprint

and Grade 2 Centaur, but put it all together in the September 30 Sprinters.

Bred by K.I. Farm in Japan, Lord Kanaloa is a half-brother to multiple

stakes-placed Lord Balius. They are out of the winning Storm Cat mare Lady

Blossom, a daughter of American champion filly Saratoga Dew.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com