God Selection dominates Fukuryu to conclude Japan Road

If not, next in line is Triple Crown-nominated La Perouse, who sports 30 points from his Feb. 21 Hyacinth S. victory. 

God Selection dominated a Chukyo allowance on the front end last out, but post 13 here posed a challenge trying to get to the early lead. Hustled from the gate by jockey Yuji Nakai, he set up shop in a prompting second as Lord Strom dictated the pace. God Selection put his head in front rounding the far turn, kicked away entering the stretch, and held sway by three lengths.

The top two in the betting had to settle for second and third, worth 16 and eight points, respectively. Meisho Murakumo, the 3.60-1 second choice, held the runner-up spot by a neck from rallying 3.20-1 favorite Gold Higher, who clocked the fastest final three furlongs in :37.2. Taisei Again checked in fourth, replicating his finish from the Dec. 16 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun and adding four points to bring up his total to six. 

T Up Leon crossed the wire fifth, followed by Your History, Glanz Atem, Ladybug, Ca Va, Lance of Earth, Lord Strom, Giuditta, Taisei Slugger, and Miko Black. 

God Selection negotiated about 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.1, the fastest time for the Fukuryu going back to 2003 (the first year race data is available at umanity.jp). The bay has compiled a mark of 5-3-0-1, all on dirt at this trip. Progressing since a seventh in a newcomers’ race at Niigata, God Selection got up in time by a head at Hanshin Nov. 7 and placed third at the same venue two weeks later. He improved markedly in his sophomore bow at Chukyo Feb. 7 and continued his ascent here.

By European champion Novellist, God Selection is out of Ultimate Love, a daughter of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S. His second dam, classic-placed Koiuta by the Sunday Silence stallion Fuji Kiseki, scored her signature wins in the 2006 Daily Hai Queen Cup and 2007 Victoria Mile.