Ascoli Piceno delivered a classy performance to take the Victoria Mile and secure her spot in the Breeders’ Cup

The daughter of Daiwa Major lived up to her favoritism in Tokyo, earning an automatic berth into the GI Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar

Wide open on paper, Ascoli Piceno delivered a resounding victory / JRA

TOKYO, Japón (Special for Turf Diario).- Expectations were sky-high and Ascoli Piceno didn’t disappoint. With a devastating late surge down the stretch, the Japanese-bred filly captured Sunday’s G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse by the narrowest of margins—but with complete authority. The prestigious win came with an added reward: an automatic, expenses-paid berth into the GI Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, courtesy of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” program.

Facing 16 rivals in a race run at a strong and honest tempo set by Alice Verite (Kizuna) from the jump, Ascoli Picenospent most of the one-mile contest near the rear, at one point second last. After cornering into the stretch, jockey Christophe Lemaire shifted her to the far outside, gave her rein at the top of the lane, and let her roll. She responded instantly. Unleashing a burst of speed and showing great determination, the daughter of Daiwa Major weaved through traffic and wore down stablemate Queen’s Walk (Kizuna) in the final strides to win by a neck in 1:32.1 over the firm turf.

“She didn’t break well, and it took us time to find a rhythm,” said Lemaire. “I was a bit concerned given the wide draw and the pressure of being the favorite, but she showed her energy when it mattered most. It took her time to hit top gear, but her mental toughness and big heart made the difference.”

Queen’s Walk, with Yuga Kawada up, also rallied from the back and struck the front along the inside at the furlong pole, appearing to have the race won. But she couldn’t hold off the winner’s charge late. Both fillies sport the colors of Sunday Racing Co., Ltd., completing a 1-2 finish for the powerful operation.

Charging from even farther back, Shirankedo (Declaration of War) turned in one of the strongest finishing efforts of the field, clocking the fastest final 100 meters to grab third, beaten only a nose for second. Argine (Lord Kanaloa) followed closely in fourth, a half-length behind, while pace-setter Alice Verite held on for fifth, another three-quarters of a length adrift.

For Ascoli Piceno, it was a fifth graded stakes win and her second at the highest level, following her victory in the 2023 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. The triumph marked the second G1 success for trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa, and a record-setting fourth win in the race for Lemaire.

In addition to covering entry fees for the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf on grass at Del Mar Nov. 1, the Breeders’ Cup will also provide travel assistance for horses based outside North America.

Ascoli Piceno had already made headlines this season with a dazzling international win, taking the G2 1351 Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia.