February Stakes (G1) - Preview

While Daiwa Scarlet's entry may have made for the best February Stakes ever, the 26th running of the race on Sunday afternoon (February 22) at Tokyo Racecourse will still be a can't miss affair.

Tokyo Racecourse

Japanese racing fans were stunned to hear last week's injury withdrawal of Daiwa Scarlet, the 5-year-old mare who became the first female horse to win the Arima Kinen in 37 years. The February Stakes would've been the first dirt race of her career, which the Kunihide Matsuda-trained frontrunner had planned to use as a springboard for the Dubai World Cup next month. Her retirement, however, was announced on Monday, much to the disappointment of her connections.

Yet the February Stakes is still shaping up to be a race for the ages worthy of its Grade 1 status, featuring some of the best dirt runners in the Japan Racing Association's recent times.

The race was founded in 1984 as a Grade 3 contest before being bumped up to Grade 2 in 1994, at set weights. In 1997, the February Stakes was upgraded to Grade 1-the first Grade 1 dirt race penciled in on the JRA calendar. The dirt mile at Tokyo starts on the back stretch with the first 75 meters laid out on turf, paving the way for a run of more than 600 meters to the first turn. The course bends left handed for 450 meters before leading into the punishing straight of 501 meters.

Another all-domestic field is in place for the February Stakes; the following are the early favorites for the 2009 Grade 1 opener.:

KANE HEKILI: There seems to be no stopping the JRA's dirt horse of the year in 2008, who made a miraculous comeback from a layoff of two years and four months to win the Japan Cup Dirt in December. Kane Hekili, now 7, finished ninth in the Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino Stakes in November-his first race since June 2006-before capturing the Japan Cup Dirt for his second time. Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii's horse went on to win the Tokyo Daishoten on the local circuit to regain his stature as the best dirt horse in the country, adding the Kawasaki Kinen on Jan. 28 to ensure his revival. The Fuji Kiseki son will run in the February Stakes for the first time in three years, and there's little to doubt him now, especially with the new partnership with Christophe Lemaire working out so well. It appears Kane Hekili only has himself to beat before winning the race for a second time.		Kane Hekili
VERMILION: A year ago, trainer Sei Ishizuka's horse owned Japanese dirt racing. This year, the son of El Condor Pasa must prove he still has what it takes. Vermilion conceded horse-of-the-year honors to fellow 7-year-old Kane Hekili after losing the Japan Cup Dirt and the Tokyo Daishoten last year, and the defending champion of the February Stakes will have to figure out a way to beat his nemesis, who he has yet to beat in three past meetings. No horse has won the February Stakes two straight years, and a lot will depend on the jockey, Yutaka Take, who once rode Kane Hekili and could turn Vermilion into the first dirt runner to win a billion yen in prize money. Vermilion doesn't appear to have lost his form, and only Kane Hekili stands in his way to making history.		Vermilion
CASINO DRIVE: The Kazuo Fujisawa-trained 4-year-old threw his hat into the ring at the last minute, hoping to secure a gate to warm up for the Dubai World Cup next month. The son of Mineshaft who was a contender for the American Triple Crown series last year, is coming off a victory of close to four lengths in the 1,800-meter Alexandrite Stakes on a very sloppy Nakayama track last month, despite weighing in 22 kilograms less. Casino Drive only has six races under his belt, so there is plenty of upside. He makes for a very intriguing pick, and a lot will come down to the hands of veteran jockey Katsumi Ando who was set to board Daiwa Scarlet before she was scratched. Ando won the February Stakes two years ago with Sunrise Bacchus, who will also be among the field.		Casino Drive
SUCCESS BROCKEN: Like Casino Drive, another 4-year-old with penty of promise who could end up surprising Kane Hekili and Vermilion. The colt has come in under third just once in nine races on dirt, which was at the Japan Cup Dirt (he finished eighth). The Hideaki Fujiwara-trained horse has placed third to Kane Hekili by more than two lengths in his last two races-the Tokyo Daishoten and Kawasaki Kinen-but a growth spurt from the son of Symboli Kris S could make things interesting on Sunday, especially with big-race jockey Hiroyuki Uchida in the saddle for a third consecutive race.		Success Brocken
FERRARI PISA: His comeback may not quite be like Kane Hekili's, but trainer Toshiaki Shirai's 5-year-old returned to winning form on Feb. 1 after being sidelined for close to five months with facial nerve damage that prevented from him even eating properly at one point. His win in the 1,400-meter Negishi Stakes at Tokyo was impressive, his sixth straight result of second or better. Ferrari Pisa, in the hands of big-race jockey Yasunari Iwata, may not be the favorite come post time but he will hard to rule out, provided that he hasn't suffered any setbacks from his return.		Ferrari Pisa
ESPOIR CITY: Another tempting 4-year-old pick who will likely set the pace for the field on Sunday. The son of Gold Allure trained by Akio Adachi has won four of five on dirt, and took second in the 1,800-meter Heian Stakes on Jan. 25. The February Stakes will be Espoir City's first Grade 1 race, but he certainly has the speed to give the contenders a run for their money. If the likes of Kane Hekili and Vermilion don't catch up to Espoir City early, he could make things interesting for the punters.		Espoir City