Teruya Yoshida’s homebred Logotype turned back a strong challenge in the stretch from favorite Codino and prevailed by a neck in a thrilling upset performance in Japan’s top race for juvenile males, the 146,600,000-yen ($1,755,373) Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (Jpn-I) Dec. 16.
Logotype, a 35-1 outsider, was timed in 1:33.40 for the 1,600-meter (one-mile) turf race at Nakayama Racecourse, tying the stakes record set by Meiner Recolte in 2004 and by Alfredo in last year’s edition.
Jockey Mirco Demuro had Logotype ideally positioned in fourth early while Codino settled farther back than usual in seventh, about six or seven lengths behind pacesetters Crown Regalo and highly regarded A Shin Top.
Neo Wisdom spurted from fifth along the inside to take control leaving the backstretch, but Logotype was ready to run when Demuro gave the cue and willingly charged to command at the top of the stretch to secure the win. Codino angled wide into the lane and roared up to engage Logotype about a furlong out, but the winner was too strong.
Demuro enjoyed a second win in the Asahi Hai Futurity following his victory in 2010 with Grand Prix Boss, that season's champion 2-year-old male.
Trained by Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Logotype came in with an allowance victory at Tokyo Nov. 25, which marked his second win in five previous starts. He finished third to Sunday Racing Co.'s Codino in the Clover Sho Aug. 4 at Sapporo. He turned the tables on that rival in the Asahi Hai Futurity, halting the unbeaten record of the even-money favorite while denying him a breakthrough at the group I level.
U.Carrot Farm's Gottfried, the 16-1 third choice who entered with two wins from as many career starts, uncoiled an impressive acceleration to finish third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Codino. Kentucky-bred group II winner A Shin Top, also previously undefeated and the 7-1 second favorite, got caught in traffic in midstretch and finished eighth.
Both Gottfried and Logotype are from the second crop of accomplished Japanese miler Lohengrin, who stands at Lex Stud in Hokkaido. With the Asahi Hai Futurity win, Logotype became his sire's first stakes winner among 36 winners from two crops of racing age. A 13-year-old son of Singspiel out of French classic winner Carling, Lohengrin was a multiple group winner in Japan for Yoshida's racing syndicate Shadai Race Horse and placed at the group I level in France and Hong Kong.
Yoshida bred Logotype out of the winning Sunday Silence mare Stereotype.