Medaglia d'Oro's Japan strong in Easy Goer Stakes

After an impressive seven-length Maiden Special Weight win at Churchill last time out, it was clear Medaglia d'Oro colt Japan was one to watch. The three-year-old colt continued to draw attention June 6 with a gutsy score in the Easy Goer Stakes on Belmont Day.

In the one-and-one-sixteenth-mile race Japan tracked the lead, two-lengths off the pace in second. In contention throughout, the colt swung wide for running room down the stretch and battled in the final stages to take the win in dramatic fashion.

Bred by Emory A. Hamilton, Japan was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for owner Barry Schwartz. Out of the Capote mare Maya, the colt is a full-brother to millionaire Graded Stakes winner and G1-placed Al Khali. The family traces back to Champion Queena and G1 winner Verrazano.

Japan marks the third Stakes winner in a week for Medaglia d'Oro who is in the midst of a tremendous year. The sire has been represented by more Black type winners this year than any other North American sire. Medaglia d'Oro's top Northern Hemisphere runners in 2015 include G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap winner Mshawish and G2 Azeri Stakes winner Gold Medal Dancer, among others. In the Southern Hemisphere, Vancouver is the best of his crop with wins that include the G1 Golden Slipper.