Ange Desir won out a fierce duel with odds on favorite Rabbit Run to claim this year’s JBC Ladies’ Classic.

Sixth pick Ange Desir won out a fierce duel with odds on favorite Rabbit Run to claim this year’s JBC Ladies’ Classic. Marking a runner-up effort and a win in her two-year-old starts on turf, the Deep Impact filly was switched to dirt from her sixth career start in April of her three-year-old season. Her five wins out of 12 starts over dirt are all between 1,600m and 2,100m distances including the 2017 Sparking Lady Cup, the 2018 Empress Hai and the 2018 Marine Cup. This win was the first JBC Ladies' Classic title for both trainer Mitsugu Kon and jockey Norihiro Yokoyama, while Yokoyama has won the JBC Sprint with Nishiken Mononofu in 2017.

Quick out of gate 16, Ange Desir hugged the rails in fifth inside race favorite Rabbit Run along the backstretch. The two fillies, still racing side by side, advanced forward turning the final corners wide, took the front entering the homestretch and launched a fierce rally down the lane with Ange Desir passing the wire a head in front.

“We were able to race in good position and the filly ran really well right up to the end. I’m glad we were able to win out the duel. She was in good form coming into the race and she felt comfortable from the beginning. She’s a great horse and is improving with every race,” commented Norihiro Yokoyama.

Fifth choice Fashionista traveled third from last after a slow break, made bid from the outside after a wide turn and unleashed a powerful late charge, running the fastest last three furlongs, to pin second pick Queen Mambo in the final strides for third.