FUNABASHI, Chiba Pref. — Daiwa Scarlet went wire to wire Sunday in a tremendous show of strength to top the Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse by a length and three-quarters and become the first filly in 37 years to capture the yearend grand finale.
The chestnut Scarlet clocked 2 minutes, 31.5 seconds over the 2,500 meters of turf as she bested a field of 14, a field that for the first time in as many years failed to include the fans' favorite for the partially ballot-chosen lineup.
Though the presence of that horse, Vodka — Daiwa Scarlet's biggest rival — would have undoubtedly given the win an air of sweet revenge, the victory was by no means easy. Scarlet only made it look so.