Japan: Peptide Nile (37-1) upsets Grade 1 February Stakes

Lightly regarded Peptide Nile turned in an astonishingperformance in claiming his first Grade 1 victory Sunday, carrying 37-1 odds toa 1 1/4-length upset in the US$822,845 February Stakes, a one-turn dirt mile atTokyo Racecourse.

The 6-year-old horse gave trainer Hidenori Take, who openedhis yard in 2018, his seventh graded, flat victory and his first Grade 1. JockeyYusuke Fujioka celebrated his second Grade 1 win to go with a Mile Cup triumphwith Keiai Nautique in 2018.

Don Frankie (35-1) led the 16-horse field with a fast paceall the way into the stretch while Wilson Tesoro (5-2), Igniter (33-1), DuraErede (4-1) and Peptide Nile ran in close pursuit.

Shifting slightly outside for room in the turn, Peptide Nileslipped into the stretch in fourth and in good striking position. He acceleratedwith a good turn of foot to seize command before the furlong marker and held onwell to win.

“The pace was tough, but he ran a great race,” Fujioka said.“We were able to sit in a better position than expected, but I didn’t imaginehe would take over the lead that early and that easily. The wire seemed veryfar today.”

After making his debut in 2021, the son of King Kamehamehawas transferred to dirt racing from his third start and immediately showedpotential with a three-race winning streak. He was able to claim only one winin his 4-year-old campaign in 2022.

Last season, including the listed Onuma and Betelgeuse stakes,the bay horse landed three wins. He came back Sunday off a sixth-place resultin the Tokai (G2) on Jan. 21.

“His last start didn’t turn out as hoped,” Fujioka said, “butas long as he’s able to run in good rhythm as he did today, I’m sure we canlook forward to solid performances in the future.”

In his first dirt start, Gaia Force (12-1) settled three wideand in eighth before switching paths to the outside entering the straight. The 5-year-oldgray gradually closed on the leaders and, although failing to threaten theeventual winner, showed good speed in the last furlong to rally with Sekifu(47-1) and Tagano Beauty (36-1) and secure the runner-up spot by a neck.

Sekifu saved ground third from the rear and angled out whilestill having much ground to make up but launched the fastest late kick and dugin well to the wire in a fierce rally for a photo-finish third, nosing outfourth-place Tagano Beauty.

Post-time favorite Omega Guiness (2-1) dropped awaydisappointingly to finish 14th after racing prominently in seventh and two wideinto the top of the stretch.

Owned by Kazuhiko Numakawa, Peptide Nile had a winning time of 1:35.7 covering 1,600meters without a run-up on the fast, left-handed, dirt track. The early fractionswere 22.8, 45.6 and 1:10.4.

The first Grade 1 race on the 2024 Japan Racing Associationcalendar, the February Stakes drew an announced crowd of 48,432. The totalhandle for the 12-race card was US$183,645,634, including $110,465,953 on thefeature.