Champion War Emblem, who has experienced breeding difficulties at stud in Japan, was represented by his first stakes winner when Shonan Alba pulled away in the stretch to win the Feb. 11 Kyodo News Service Hai at Tokyo. The 3-year-old colt, bred by Kuwata Bokujo, also won an earlier race this year.
"I knew there was another lead horse and I wanted him to learn to settle back," said jockey Masayoshi Ebina. "He was very excited before the race, and I never let him go as he liked today. But I was pleased that he could wait."
War Emblem, who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) his championship season, was sent to Japan to stand at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido. His first crop arrived in 2004.
A son of Our Emblem out of the Lord At War mare Sweetest Lady, War Emblem is represented by just 22 foals of racing age. He failed to get any of his mares in foal in both 2006 and 2007.
