by Mike Curry

Red Desire battled gamely in the closing strides of the Shuka Sho (Jpn-G1) on Sunday to deny Buena Vista in her bid to become only the third filly to sweep the three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies.

Red Desire, runner-up to Buena Vista in both the Yoshun Himba (Jpn-G1) (Japanese Oaks) and Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas), was rated off the pace by Hirofumi Shii and surged to the lead with about 200 meters remaining in the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) race. Buena Vista rallied from between horses on the outside, forcing Broad Street to be checked in close quarters, and unleashed her bid to draw even with Red Desire.

Beaten by less than a length in each of the previous two classics, Red Desire would not be denied again and pushed a nose in front to prevail in a thrilling finish. She completed the distance in 1:58.20 on firm turf to improve to three wins and three seconds in six starts for trainer Mikio Matsunaga and owner Tokyo Horse Racing Co.

Although Red Desire fought gamely to earn the victory, she would have won regardless as Buena Vista was disqualified for interfering with Broad Street in the stretch. Red Desire’s determination in the closing strides saved track stewards from a tough decision to disqualify a Japanese filly Triple Crown winner had Buena Vista prevailed.

Red Desire entered off a runner-up finish in the Kansai TV Telecasting Corp. Sho Rose Stakes (Jpn-G2), in which she was beaten by a neck by Broad Street. A bay filly by Manhattan Café, Red Desire’s three losses have come by a neck, a nose in the Japanese Oaks, and a half-length in the One Thousand Guineas.

Bred in Japan by Shadai Farm, Red Desire is out of the winning Caerleon mare Great Sunrise.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor