Mitono O wires Fukuryu in conclusion to Japan Road

Mitono O ended up going off as the 3-2 favorite in the Fukuryu, fans betting that he’d repeat his front-running allowance coup Jan. 7 over this same track and about 1 1/8-mile trip. The strapping chestnut did just that, and the rest didn’t look like offering a serious challenge.

Trained by Koji Maki and ridden by Takuya Kowata, Mitono O traveled exceptionally well. The stalking Maono Arashi and Vendaval Y Rabiar began to come under pressure as Mitono O kept winging. Few made an impact from further back. Hero Call improved into the picture, and Mokku Mokku closed furiously, but too late.

Mitono O clocked 1:51.9 to extend his record to 3-for-4. A debut winner at Niigata last August, the son of Logotype was a non-threatening 11th in a Tokyo allowance in his only other juvenile appearance. The winner of that race, Perriere, would eventually capture the Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road. Later Saturday, Perriere ran fourth in the UAE Derby (G2) to fellow Japanese shipper Derma Sotogake.

Mokku Mokku fared best of the Triple Crown nominees in the Fukuryu, collecting 16 points for finishing a clear second. Hero Call checked in another 2 1/2 lengths astern in third (12 points), followed by Eifer Teio in fourth (eight points) and Oro Y Plata (four points). Next came Curren Alcantara, Vendaval Y Rabiar, Maono Arashi, Monde Plume, Till Dawn, Fuji Rapunzel, Dusk, Gold Balancer, and Lux Frontier.

Bred by Hiroshi Chikushi, Mitono O is out of multiple Canadian Grade 3 winner Seductively, a daughter of 1995 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) champion Thunder Gulch.