HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara’s Yuugiri, coming off a third behind Arkansas Derby runner Secret Oath in the Feb. 26 Honeybee Stakes (G3), earned her time in the spotlight with a front running victory in Saturday’s $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3). The win earned her 100 points and a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) Friday, May 6.
Yuugiri, ridden by Florent Geroux, showed the way throughout, setting fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 3/5 for the first half mile while being tracked by Bubble Rock. Beguine, at 11-1, lurked throughout, but could not get to the winner in the final strides and was a neck behind in second. Bubble Rock held on for third, while 8-5 favorite Dream Lith was fifth. Final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:43 3/5. Jockey Francisco Arrieta on Beguine file and objection against the winner for brushing in the final furlong, but it was disallowed by the stewards.
Yuugiri, a homebred daughter of Shackleford trained by Rudolphe Brisset, improved her record to 2-2-1 in five starts and has now earned $543,610. She paid $10.20, $5.20 and $3.20.
Winning trainer Rodolphe Brisset, Yuugiri: “That was really not the initial plan (go to the lead), but she broke so sharp. Flo (Florent Geroux) did good to just go with the flow. The fractions were pretty fast. It’s very demanding to go to the wire, going :46 and change, and she did it. It’s a fun one.”
Trainer Dan Peitz, second with Beguine: “We’re thrilled. Lightly raced. Sat behind horses today. Even though she’s done that sprinting, she didn’t come forward, either.”
Jockey Francisco Arrieta, second on Beguine: “She looks like she’s improving. Danny (Peitz) has been doing really good work with that filly. She looked really good today.”
Photo: Yuugiri (Coady Photography)
