W Heart Bond nips Wilson Tesoro in Champions Cup photo

One week after Calandagan’s epic Japan Cup (G1) on turf, Sunday’s $1.6 million Champions Cup (G1) served up a similarly spine-tingling stretch battle on the dirt at Chukyo. Silk Racing Co.’s filly W Heart Bond just got the photo-finish verdict over Wilson Tesoro, becoming only the second female to win the race formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt.

The two were nearly as inseparable in the market as 6-1 chances behind 6-5 favorite Narukami, who was a disappointing 13th of 16. Wilson Tesoro, runner-up in this race for the past two years, ranked as the very slight second choice over W Heart Bond, but that did not help him where it counted at the wire.

Jockey Ryusei Sakai, best known for his partnership with Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) star Forever Young, was winning the Champions Cup for the third consecutive year. In 2023-24, he steered Godolphin’s champion Lemon Pop to victory.

Trained by Ryuji Okubo, who also sent out 2020 Champions Cup hero Chuwa Wizard, W Heart Bond has now compiled a stellar 7-for-8 career record. Her lone loss came in the about 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Gold Cup at Mombetsu Aug. 28, when she set the pace and got overhauled late.

W Heart Bond rebounded in style last time out in the Nov. 9 Miyako (G3). Back at this optimal trip of about 1 1/8 miles, she posted a record time of 1:47.5 at Kyoto.

The Kizuna filly had to dig deep to prevail in her Grade 1 debut here, especially considering that the race set up for closers. But she rose to the occasion to maintain her perfect mark both at Chukyo and at this distance.

Breaking well from post 2, W Heart Bond initially took up a forward position between the rail-drawn leader, William Barows, and the vying Sixpence. Sakai wisely opted to let them go and eased W Heart Bond back into a stalking third. 

That was the key to her success, since the on-pace duo wound up dueling each other into defeat. W Heart Bond smoothly ranged up turning for home and tackled them in the stretch. 

Meanwhile, Wilson Tesoro had been steadily improving position on the inside. After shifting out to go around the weakening Sixpence, he angled back to the rail and accosted W Heart Bond.

In alternating strides, Wilson Tesoro appeared poised for a JRA Grade 1 breakthrough, but W Heart Bond kept responding in the see-saw battle to the line. Her nose was down at the right instant in a final time of 1:50.2.

Wilson Tesoro suffered another agonizing loss in the Champions Cup. After his runner-up effort to Lemon Pop in 2023, he missed by a nose to the defending champion in 2024, and came out on the wrong side of the photo again on Sunday.

There was a 2 1/2-length gap back to Ramjet and Meisho Hario, who rallied from far back for third and fourth, respectively. The eight-year-old Meisho Hario flew his final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in a field-best :36.7 to miss third by just a head.

Outrange reported home fifth, followed by Hagino Alegrias; the other filly, Tenka Jo; Sunrise Zipangu; Seraphic Call; Perriere; Sixpence; Peptide Nile; favored Narukami, whose only two losses have been clunkers at Chukyo; Helios; Japan Road to the Derby winner Luxor Cafe, who might not be able to blame his poor showing entirely on post 16; and William Barows.

W Heart Bond is now a Grade 1 winner like her dam, Persistently, whose claim to fame is flooring Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra in the 2010 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga.

“She’s simply magnificent,” Sakai enthused. “Just making it to a Grade 1 is tough enough, so winning it is truly amazing. Her final workout didn’t look particularly impressive, but I guess she knew that the race was what mattered. 

“We didn’t have a specific race plan, so I focused on riding her while keeping an eye on our rivals. She felt good turning the final corners, and I trusted that she would give her best run when she geared up as Wilson Tesoro came from the inside. She was really strong today.”

Sakai paid tribute to the historic nature of her victory, as W Heart Bond emulated 2015 Champions Cup heroine Sambista. 

“I’m just happy that she became a Grade 1 winner and the first filly/mare in 10 years to win the Champions Cup, rather than my third consecutive title in this race,” Sakai graciously said.

Unlike Sambista, a mature six-year-old mare who sprang a 65-1 upset in her career finale, the four-year-old W Heart Bond presumably has more to offer. 

Bred by Japan’s iconic Northern Farm, W Heart Bond belongs to a well-known U.S. family. Persistently, herself a Phipps Stable homebred, descends from Hall of Famer Heavenly Prize. Thus W Heart Bond’s maternal relatives include Grade 1 scorers Good Reward, Instilled Regard, Oh What a Windfall, and Dancing Forever.