Breeding & Racing Magazine

1st Stakes-Winner For War Emblem

In Japan, multiple US Gr1-winning 9YO stallion & former US Champion War Emblem (Our Emblem-Sweetest Lady, by Lord At War) "who has experienced breeding difficulties at stud" was represented by his 1st stakes-winner when his colt Shonan Alba (War Emblem-Xianlang, by Great Commotion) "pulled away in the stretch" to score a half-length victory in the Listed Kyodo News Service Hai (1800m on turf) for 3YOs at Tokyo, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. Shonan Alba (ridden by Masayoshi Ebina for trainer Y.Ninomiya) defeated Take Mikazuchi (Gold Allure-Kazumi Harukoma, by Maruzensky) & Meiner Starry (Star Of Cozzene-Sweet Wink, by Sunday Silence). War Emblem (who won both the 2002 Gr1 Kentucky Derby & Gr1 Preakness Stakes, plus the Gr1 Haskell Invitational Handicap & Gr2 Illinois Derby in his championship season) was sold for US$17 million & sent to Japan to stand at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido; his 1st crop arrived in 2004. War Emblem "is represented by just 22 foals of racing age & failed to get any of his mares in foal in both 2006 (despite being offered more than 100 mares) & 2007".