Tenjin Musashi defended his Pegasus Jump Stakes title on Saturday afternoon with a 3 minute 45.7 second win in the 3,350-meter prep race to next month's Nakayama Grand Jump.
The 7-year-old Tenjin Musashi clipped Cosmo Lavandin at the wire, and emerged as the early favorite for the spring steeplechase championship on April 19 at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture.
The race had lost some of its luster even before post time when on Thursday, Karasi's withdrawal and retirement was announced.
Karasi, the oldest winner in the history of the Japan Racing Association, was diagnosed with tendinitis in the superior flexor of the right foreleg after a routine workout, leaving trainer Eric Musgrove no choice but to pull him from the Pegasus Jump Stakes as well as next month's Nakayama Grand Jump-which the 13-year-old was trying to win for an unprecedented fourth straight time.
Karasi's scratch reduced the field to 12 for the Pegasus Jump Stakes, and turned the race into a wide open contest. Cosmo Lavandin and Tenjin Musashi, drawn next to each other, were the first and third favorites, respectively, and the two would in the end fight it out for first.
Cosmo Lavandin, winner of his last two races both at Nakayama, had a slight edge in the votes as the top pick and enjoyed better positioning during the trip, the pace set by 9-year-old Oto Zeus with Ladrao Danger and Forest Dancer driving right behind.
Tenjin Musashi fell toward the back on the second lap and it seemed, for a moment, that the Terumasa Yano-trained bay was out of the running. But on the next to last turn, jockey Norihisa Hamanoya gave his mount the green light to go forward, and Tenjin Musashi properly responded.
Heading into the last bend, Cosmo Lavandin was poised to strike and wrest the lead from Oto Zeus, and that he managed without problem. The problem was Tenjin Musashi, who came roaring from behind on the outside.
Cosmo Lavandin did not appear to be slowing down on the straight; Tenjin Musashi just would not stop accelerating. The two were neck-and-neck until Tenjin Musashi moved in front during the last 50 meters, taking the tape by half a length for the victory. Sixth favorite Tokai Magic took third, trailing the front two by a couple of lengths.
Second choice Meisho Taro slumped to eighth place.
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