The three favorites were the first three finishers in the February Stakes (G1) Feb. 22 at Tokyo Racecourse with last year's winner, Costa Nova, rebounding from three losses to win by a half-length.
More than half the 16-horse field was lined up across the track with 200 meters left in the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) race. Costa Nova, well back around the sweeping turn, was poised on the far outside but gaining ground midway down the stretch.
With Japan's leading jockey, Christophe Lemaire, up, the 6-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa, grabbed the lead inside the 100-meter marker to defeat Wilson Tesoro and jockey Yuga Kawada with W Heart Bond another half-length back in third. Costa Nova stopped the timer at 1:35.4.
The victory was worth a "Win and You're In" bid to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
"I am happy to have won the first grade 1 of this season with Costa Nova, with whom I've partnered for some time," Lemaire said.
"He broke nicely and we were able to relax during the trip behind Wilson Tesoro. I had great response from the horse as soon as I shifted him to the outside for the stretch drive and, from then on, he was extremely strong up to the wire."
For Wilson Tesoro, second was a familiar and frustrating outcome. The 7-year-old son of Kitasan Black has been runner-up in three straight runnings of the Champions Cup (G1) and twice was a bridesmaid in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1). He also finished second in the 2024 Korea Cup (G3).
"It's a bit frustrating," said trainer Noboru Takagi.
Costa Nova, out of the Heart's Cry mare Colorful Blossom, has taken a conservative path in Japan's thin top-level dirt racing program since his victory in the 2025 February Stakes.
He finished third in the listed Kashiwa Kinen May 5 at Funabashi, then caught a muddy track June 25 in the listed Sakitama Hai at Urawa Racecourse and finished 11th. After a five-month break, he returned to finish second in the Musashino Stakes (G3) at Tokyo Racecourse.
He then passed on the only other top-level Japanese dirt race, the Champions Cup (G1) Dec. 7 at Chukyo Racecourse. W Heart Bond won that event, edging Wilson Tesoro by a nose.
Trainer Tetsuya Kimura attributed the reversal of form to stiffer training.
"We've upped his training compared to his last three races and it's made a difference," the trainer said before the race. "His condition's improved, and being a grade 1 horse, his movement's always good."
Costa Nova was bred by Northern Racing and carries the silks of Katsumi Yoshida.
His connections did not outline plans but the February Stakes does have a recent history of producing international competitors.
Cafe Pharoah won in both 2021 and 2022 and went on to finish third in the 2023 Saudi Cup (G1). Lemon Pop took the 2023 edition but then was 10th in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in his next start and 12th in the Saudi Cup in 2024.
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