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  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Bustin Stones sire of Bustinattheseams 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd BEL). Owner, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Eaton & Thorne, Inc....
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...

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Vodka faces tough field in bid for Tenno Sho repeat

Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009 5:26 PM

by Myra Lewyn

Japan’s reigning Horse of the Year, Vodka, will try to become only the second horse ever to win consecutive editions of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1) on Sunday at Tokyo.

After capturing last year’s Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1), Vodka won the Tenno Sho on November 2 by a nose from Daiwa Scarlet in a record time of 1:57.20 for 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) on turf. She followed with a third-place finish in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) on November 30 to conclude the year and land the nation’s top honor as well as champion older mare.

Two-time Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S won the Tenno Sho in 2002 and ’03.

Vodka gave two lackluster performances in group stakes in Dubai to begin 2009, but she romped to a seven-length triumph in the Victoria Mile (Jpn-G1) on May 17 in her return to racing in her native country and subsequently landed her second straight win in the Yasuda Kinen when she wore down champion Deep Sky to score by three-quarters of a lengths on June 7.

Vodka received a four-month break after the Yasuda Kinen and in her return she finished second by three-quarters of a length to Tenno Sho entrant Company in the Mainichi Okan (Jpn-G2) on October 11. She pleased trainer Katsuhiko Sumii in her final workout Tenno Sho, in which she will meet a tough field, half of which have won an international or Japanese Group 1 race.

"She worked extremely well,” Sumii said. “She's been able to stay in top form all year. And that's what you want to see from Vodka. If she can just be her usual self, then it's good enough to win races. In her work for the [Mainichi Okan], she had to be pushed a little bit by the jockey, but this time she didn't need any jostling; I was more than happy with the session.

“After the time off, she may have been under some pressure for her last race. It turned out to be a tough race for her because she was marked being out in front. She's much more relaxed now, having gotten one out of the way.

“Vodka will be at her very best for her second start of the season. A horse of her quality, you can only hope you've made no mistakes in the preparation and I like to think we haven't. We're up against another tough field this year, and we shouldn't take it for granted that we can run well like last year. Last year is last year."

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

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