by Mike Curry

Japanese classic winner Vodka ended a seven-race winless stretch with a convincing 3 1/2-length victory on Sunday in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo Racecourse.

The Tanino Gimlet filly won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on May 27, 2007, at Tokyo but did not win in seven subsequent starts prior to the Yasuda Kinen.

Vodka finished fourth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 29 at Nad al Sheba, where she was beaten by 1 3/4 lengths by winner Jay Peg, and entered the Yasuda Kinen off a runner-up finish in the Victoria Mile on May 18 at Tokyo.

Trained by Katsuhiko Sumii for owner Yuzo Tanimizu, Vodka settled in fifth under Yasunari Iwata as Kongo Rikishio set the pace with Armada stalking from second. Vodka split Armada and Kongo Rikishio with about 300 meters remaining and surged clear with a powerful turn of foot.

Vodka completed 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:32.70 of firm turf to win the final leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.

“Since her win in the Derby last year, I, as a trainer, may have failed to pick the best race that would fit her well, or she would face minor setbacks that prevented to run in a scheduled plan,” Sumii said.  “But I am very happy that she was able to bring out her best winning style in the Yasuda.”

The Asian Mile Challenge also includes the Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes (Aus-G1), won by Niconero on March 1; the Dubai Duty Free; and the Champions Mile (HK-G1). Champions Mile winner Good Ba Ba finished 17th of 18 runners in the Yasuda Kinen.

“He wasn’t himself today,” jockey Olivier Doleuze said of Good Ba Ba. “The horse was restless from even before the start and couldn’t relax in the race.”

Runner-up Armada was three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Eishin Dover.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor