There are ample clues in the race records of the Japanese colts Energico and Eri King that they will be well-suited to start at 1 7/8 miles for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Kikuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.
They were both around 3-1 in early betting on Friday.
Energico has won 3 of 4 starts since last October, and has been raced sparingly this year. Energico won a Grade 2 race at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse in April, but missed the Grade 1 Japanese Derby on June 1.
On Aug. 31, Energico closed from fifth of 16 in the last half-mile to finish second by a half-length as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Niigata Kinen for 3-year-olds and older horses at 1 1/4 miles at Niigata Racecourse.
Eri King has won 4 of 6 starts, but was beaten 3 3/4 lengths when fifth in the Japanese Derby at 1 1/2 miles. Eri King has had one subsequent start, winning the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at 1 1/2 miles at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 21.
Eri King closed from seventh to finish a neck in front of Shohei, who starts in the $2.74 million Kikuka Sho. The race, also known as the Japanese St. Leger, is restricted to 3-year-old colts and fillies.
Shohei, who shares a name with the Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has won 2 of 6 starts, and was third in the Japanese Derby. In May, Shohei won the Grade 2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai at 1 3/8 miles at Kyoto, the longest win of his career.
The Kikuka Sho drew a field of 18 and has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 a.m. Pacific on Saturday.
Post positions draws were favorable for Shohei (post 7) and Energico (9), but less so for Eri King (15). Eri King does tend to run from off the pace, which will force jockey Yuga Kawada to save some ground early in the marathon race.
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