FUNABASHI, Chiba Pref. -- The Satsukisho, Japan's equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas, the Triple Crown's first leg, went off without a hitch Sunday as more than 85,000 fans made their way to Nakayama Racecourse, lured in large part by the rise of a new star.
Deep Impact and jockey Yutaka Take (14) finish in first place to win the Satsukisho on Sunday at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture.
That star, the unbeaten Deep Impact, answered the support -- and rock-bottom odds -- with an impressive win, as he cruised over the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Longshot Six Sense finished in second place.