Ascoli Piceno. (JRA Photo)
Daughter of Daiwa Major Earns Automatic Berth into Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Release
TOKYO – Favored Ascoli Piceno (JPN) lived up to expectations when she came running late in a dramatic blanket finish to win Sunday’s ¥283.1 million Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse. With this victory, Ascoli Piceno earned an automatic starting position, with fees paid, into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
Ascoli Piceno raced in the back of the field of 17 for much of the Victoria Mile, while front-running Alice Verite (JPN) opened a gap on her competitors along the backstretch. Positioned well back in second from last, Ascoli Piceno was caught behind traffic soon after entering the straight. Jockey Christophe Lemaire shifted her to the outside to give the 4-year-old filly the green light, and the daughter of Daiwa Major (JPN) responded with terrific speed as soon as she hit the top of the hill to win by a neck over Queen’s Walk (JPN). She completed the Victoria Mile in 1:32.1.
“The break wasn’t too sharp, and it took some effort to get her into the speed,” said Lemaire. “I did have a little concern to how the filly would perform as race favorite starting from an outside stall, but she did have plenty of energy left when needed, and, while it did take her some time to reach her top speed, I was thrilled by how she showed her mental strength and potential in fighting to the very end.”
Queen’s Walk, who was also unhurried early on, angled out for the stretch run under jockey Yuga Kawada, accelerated impressively to reach contention soon after the 200-meter pole, and was the first to pin Alice Verite in a multiple-horse rally with just 50 meters to go before being outrun by the winner from the outside in the last stride. Both Ascoli Piceno and Queen’s Walk are owned by Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.
Meanwhile, Shirankedo (JPN) traveled well off the pace, third from last inside the eventual winner, up to the last corner. She turned in a terrific finishing speed, the fastest in the race, from 100 meters out to finish third, just a nose behind Queen’s Walk. Argine (JPN) was a head back in fourth, while Alice Verite finished three-quarters of a length behind in fifth.
With her win in the Victoria Mile, Ascoli Piceno registered her fifth career graded stakes victory and her second at the highest level following the 2023 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1). Her victory gave trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa his second JRA-Grade 1 score, while Lemaire won his fourth Victoria Mile, establishing a new record for wins by a rider.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Ascoli Piceno to start in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
