Recent off a powerful runner-up efficiency within the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), plans name for grade 2 winner Might Day Prepared to hold the American flag throughout the Pacific to race in Japan.
Citing no extra top-level alternatives for the 2-year-old daughter of Tapit in America this season, coach Joseph Lee confirmed Nov. 7 that his secure star will compete within the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse Dec. 8. The filly has remained at Del Mar following the Breeders’ Cup and the precise date of her journey is to be decided.
“There’s nothing else actually on the market; no different Breeders’ Cups or grade 1s,” Lee mentioned. “We’re actually pleased together with her, pleased how she got here out of the race.”
Kyoto will host the 1,600-meter (about one mile) race this season as a result of Hanshin, the monitor for which the race is known as, is present process renovations. The race is price ¥65 million (about US$423,439).
Lee is aware of racing in Japan very effectively. As a former long-time assistant for Godolphin, he has accompanied many horses via Japan’s quarantine course of; which he known as among the many finest on this planet. He additionally spent a while there as an assistant to his father-in-law, now-retired coach Takemi Kaga.
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The quarantine stables are positioned on the Japan Racing Affiliation’s Horse Racing Faculty for potential jockeys and secure employees in Shiroi Metropolis. The varsity has a 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) grime monitor through which the quarantined horses are given a specified time interval to make use of for coaching.
“It is an incredible place to quarantine, it is quiet,” Lee mentioned. “You are capable of practice. That is nice, you do not have to be in a bit factor the place you stroll them. They will get outdoors.
“It is an incredible quarantine, a simple quarantine. You have to run towards the perfect, you bought to be prepared and hope you traveled effectively. That is the important thing there.”
(L-R) Coach Joseph Lee and his sons Anthony and Joseph with Might Day Prepared following her victory within the Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland
By 4 begins, Might Day Prepared already has accrued greater than $1 million in earnings for Larry and Karen Doyle’s KatieRich Stables. They bought her in April from the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-12 months-Olds in Coaching for $325,000 from the De Meric Gross sales consignment. She was bred in Kentucky by White Birch Farm.
“I do not get enamored with this. If I did not assume I had the horse, I would not come,” Doyle mentioned of working his filly within the Breeders’ Cup, a sentiment that additionally covers his emotions about racing in Japan. “We by no means ducked a race, we all the time thought she was particular. She’s by no means actually had a clear, clear journey.”
Might Day Prepared started her profession by upsetting an Aug. 4 Saratoga Race Course maiden particular weight at odds of 25-1, profitable by a nostril.
She backed up that efficiency with a 1 3/4-length victory within the Sept. 8 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes and one other nostril victory in a three-way photograph within the Oct. 4 Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. Within the Jessamine, she overcame dropping a shoe and having to test a number of instances within the early levels of the race.
Within the Nov. 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf, Might Day Prepared once more discovered herself within the again early. A rail journey caught the filly in some site visitors across the far flip. Following the heavy favourite, and eventual winner Lake Victoria , she chased strongly down the lane to complete 1 1/2 lengths behind and one size forward of third.
