Longshot Justin Chicago Stuns in St. Lite纪念, Securing Final Ticket to Kikuka Sho

The 75th Sankei Sho Zentai Kinen (St. Lite Kinen, Grade 2), a official trial race offering a priority berth to the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, Grade 1), took place at Nakayama Racecourse. Justin Chicago, a three-year-old colt sent off as a distant 12th favorite under jockey Yusuke Hara, delivered a stunning late-surging victory in the homestretch to claim his first graded stakes title.

Breaking cleanly, Justin Chicago settled into an ideal pocket position along the inside rail, running in second or third place during the journey. Amid a slow, steady pace, he responded brilliantly to jockey Hara's superb tactical ride, saving ground throughout. Emerging powerfully from the stretch battle, he crossed the finish line in first place. Savoir Faire, the second favorite, finished second, while Audacia, the sixth favorite, took third. These top three finishers secured the coveted priority berths to the Kikuka Sho.

The massive upset caused by the 12th-choice winner sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with comments such as "Justin Chicago was completely off the radar" and "The racecourse went silent for a moment before erupting into a buzz." At the same time, numerous posts praised the winning combination's flawless race execution, noting, "It was a masterclass by jockey Hara, who saved every inch of ground on the inside" and "His growth over the summer is simply remarkable."

The context

The St. Lite Kinen is a key Japanese horse racing trial held at Nakayama Racecourse, serving as a stepping stone for three-year-old colts aiming for the Kikuka Sho—the 3,000-meter final leg of Japan's Triple Crown held in October. While top-tier contenders often bypass this race or take alternate routes, the trial frequently uncovers rapidly developing summer horses capable of shaking up the autumn classics. This year's victory by a longshot adds a thrilling unpredictable dynamic to the final classic race of the season.

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