Japan Breaks Through With Win by Cesario

No wonder those who made the trip to California from Japan to watch Cesario run in the $750,000 American Oaks were so confident.

In becoming the first Japanese-bred to win a Grade I in the United States, the 3-year-old granddaughter of 1989 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sunday Silence dominated her 11 opponents Sunday at Hollywood Park.

This was the fifth win in six starts for Cesario, the 4-1 second choice, and she already has earned nearly $2.6 million for Carrot Farm.

When she returned to be unsaddled after defeating 6-5 favorite Melhor Ainda by four lengths, Cesario was greeted by a throng in the winner’s circle and sustained applause from many in the on-track crowd.

One member of the traveling party was in tears and was so overcome with emotion he was on his knees with his head buried in his hands.

The almost black filly and rider Yuichi Fukunaga deserved every bit of the attention. Riding for the first time on the Hollywood Park turf course, Fukunaga hustled Cesario from the gate to gain position leaving the chute after breaking from the outside post.

Cesario then settled well in third behind longshot pacesetter Isla Cozzene and 26-1 outsider Thatswhatimean down the backstretch. Around the final turn, Cesario separated herself from the rest of the field and went on to win in 1:59.33 for the 1 1/4 miles. It was the fastest time in the four-year history of the Oaks and the largest margin of victory.

“It didn’t matter which country, she was trained the same way as usual,” trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said through an interpreter. “This is the first step for us, so this will encourage all Japanese breeders.

“I’ve had a dream about winning an American race, so this is the first step. I am very happy about this.”

Fukunaga, who is unbeaten in five races on Cesario, warmed the filly up extensively before the race, then made no mistakes during the Oaks.

“I just let her run her own race,” Fukunaga said. “Depending on how the race went, I was thinking about what would be the best position and just settled in.

“I tried not to get boxed in along the rail. She ran her best race. I think it was better than her race in the Japanese Oaks [a neck win May 22 in Tokyo]. She’s the very first horse to win an American Grade I, and, hopefully, she won’t be the last. I hope she sets the trend and others follow her.”

Melhor Ainda, who lost for the first time in five starts for T N T Stud and trainer Bobby Frankel, rallied to beat 43-1 shot Singhalese by 1 1/2 lengths for the place. Three Degrees, the 4-1 third choice, finished fifth.

“My filly kind of grabbed herself and kind of stumbled coming out of the gate,” said John Velazquez, Melhor Ainda’s rider. “It took me three or four steps to get her going. By the time I got her going, everybody came over on her and she just sucked out of there.

“I tried to catch up on the back side, but the other one just got away from us. For us, it was all over at the start.”