Keio Hai 2-Year-Old Stakes 2025 Workout Analysis

A deep dive into the final workouts of all 14 runners for the Keio Hai 2-Year-Old Stakes 2025. We grade each horse from S to C, identifying the top contenders based on their conditioning and track performance.

Key Takeaways

• S-Rank goes to Ritto’s Diamond Knot. Time, condition, and jockey (C. Lemaire) are all flawless.
• A+ Rank for fellow Ritto contender Milto Vest. Posted an exceptional uphill track time for a 2-year-old under a hold, posing a major threat with his improvement.
• Overall, the horses shipping in from the Ritto Training Center appear to be in excellent form and should be the focus of betting considerations.
• Individual analysis and a summary table for all 14 runners are provided below.

Top 3 Workout Evaluations

Before we break down the entire field, let’s spotlight the three horses whose training was truly exceptional. Two contenders from the Ritto Training Center showed movement that puts them in a class of their own.

S

⑤ Diamond Knot (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Final Work:11/5 (Wed) Ritto Uphill (Good) 4F 52.6 – 3F 38.4 – 2F 25.0 – 1F 12.6 (Cantering)Comment:”Movement remains superb.”Trend:↗ (Improving)

An undeniable S-rank. A 2-year-old clocking 52.6s on the uphill track while cantering is impressive enough, but he has clearly improved even further on his already excellent condition. The fact that jockey C. Lemaire chose this mount from several options is a clear sign of the stable’s confidence and belief in his peak fitness.

A+

⑫ Milto Vest (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Final Work:11/5 (Wed) Ritto Uphill (Good) 4F 51.2 – 3F 36.9 – 2F 24.4 – 1F 12.6 (Cantering)Comment:”Effortlessly fast time.”Trend:↗ (Improving)

The one and only horse that can truly challenge the S-ranked Diamond Knot. His final workout time of 51.2s for 4 furlongs on the uphill track is simply phenomenal for a 2-year-old. That he achieved this “cantering with plenty in hand” speaks volumes about his immense potential. It strongly suggests he has overcome the temperament issues noted in his debut, indicating significant mental growth. This massive improvement warrants an A+ rank.

A

④ Sea Mihat Haku (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Final Work:11/5 (Wed) Ritto Woodchip (Good) 80.8 – 66.1 – 52.0 – 37.2 – 11.8 (Cantering)Partner:Finished 0.1s ahead of Smart Ai (Older, Open Class, driven), tracking from 0.9s behind.Comment:”Looks even better than last race.”Trend:→ (Maintaining)

His work with a partner was breathtaking. He tracked a higher-class older horse from about 5 lengths behind and easily passed him while cantering, as his partner was being driven hard. It’s rare for a 2-year-old to show such performance on the woodchip course. This proves he has a potent closing kick even when held back, adding a new dimension to his racing style that is highly commendable.

Full Analysis of All 14 Runners

Here is a detailed workout evaluation for all 14 confirmed runners, in order of their gate number.

B+

1. Coq au Vin (Filly, 2, Miho)

Analysis: Clocked a sharp 11.3s in the final furlong of her last workout, showing clear improvement from her previous race. However, she still displayed some headstrong tendencies, indicating temperament issues remain. Her tractability in the actual race will be key.

B+

2. Xiao Ma Maru (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: His final furlong time of 13.6s on the uphill track seems ordinary, but this was likely just to check his response after a faster work on the woodchip course earlier. It would be premature to downgrade him based on time alone; he appears to be maintaining good form.

B+

3. Sperling (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: With the jockey aboard, he cantered up the hill in a solid 52.9s for 4 furlongs. He maintains the smooth movement and fighting spirit shown in his debut. While not showing the “massive improvement” of the top-ranked horses, his preparation has been very smooth.

A

4. Sea Mihat Haku (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Analysis: As detailed in the Top 3 section. His workout, where he effortlessly dominated a higher-class older horse, is extraordinary for a 2-year-old. His condition is clearly a step up from his last race and demands a high rating.

S

5. Diamond Knot (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Analysis: As detailed in the Top 3 section. Workout, jockey (Lemaire), and past performance all align perfectly. It’s hard to find any flaws. A definitive S-rank.

B

6. Touani (Filly, 2, Miho)

Analysis: Showed a sharp finish with a final furlong of 11.8s in a workout focused on the closing stages. Finishing on terms with a higher-class partner is a plus, but the overall time was average. Lacks the impact of the top-rated horses, making a B-rank appropriate.

B

7. Nenekerimaru (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Analysis: His final work was a light canter on the uphill track, so the time isn’t flashy. However, he showed strength by finishing alongside his work partner. The key will be whether he has overcome the lack of focus he has shown previously.

C

8. Fader Rotor (Filly, 2, Miho)

Analysis: A final furlong time of 13.2s on the woodchip course is extremely underwhelming for a horse competing in a G2 race. The official comment “maintaining physique” suggests no improvement, leading to a harsh evaluation.

C

9. Photon Gazer (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: While he has put in plenty of work, the negative official comment “lacks sharpness” is a major concern. His training reflects worries about his ability in a race that demands a strong closing kick, making a high rating impossible.

B

10. Fukuchan Show (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: As the comment “plenty of speed” from his woodchip work suggests, he is moving well. His final tune-up on the uphill track was smooth, finishing on terms with his partner. He appears to be holding the good form from his last race.

B+

11. Hottu Trot (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: He possesses a very sharp closing kick, having clocked final furlongs in the 11-second range for two consecutive weeks. His workout was excellent, tracking a higher-class horse from about 7 lengths back to finish together. This proves his finishing speed from his last race was no fluke.

A+

12. Milto Vest (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Analysis: As detailed in the Top 3 section. He posted a phenomenal uphill track time while cantering, indicating massive improvement from his last start. If he has overcome his temperament issues, he is the prime candidate to challenge the S-ranked horse.

B

13. (For) Yuu Pharaoh (Colt, 2, Ritto)

Analysis: Despite the short time between races, his preparation is on track. He finished his final workout on the uphill track strongly. The comment “movement is decent” isn’t “peak form,” but it shows he is stable at a high level.

B

14. Linen Tairin (Colt, 2, Miho)

Analysis: Returning to turf for this race. While his overall time is average, he showed good response with a 12.5s final furlong. The comment “young but moves well” suggests that while still raw, his movement shows promise and talent.

Final Workout Data Summary

Here is a summary table of the final workout evaluations for all 14 runners. Use this for your final betting check.

Conclusion & Final Recommendations

This article provided a thorough trackman’s analysis of the final workouts for the Keio Hai 2-Year-Old Stakes 2025. The analysis concludes that two horses from the Ritto (Kansai) training center, ⑤ Diamond Knot (S-Rank) and ⑫ Milto Vest (A+ Rank), are in overwhelmingly better condition than the rest of the field.

⑤ Diamond Knot has it all: the human factor with jockey C. Lemaire, a strong previous performance, and perfect preparation. In contrast, ⑫ Milto Vest’s phenomenal workout time reveals immense potential. If he has overcome his temperament issues, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him outperform even the S-ranked horse.

Among the Miho (Kanto) contenders, ⑪ Hottu Trot (B+), with his brilliant closing speed, and ② Xiao Ma Maru (B+), who shows high potential despite an average time, are the next best.

Next Steps

For our final selections (◎○▲△) and recommended bets based on this workout analysis, please visit the following expert site.See Final Picks & Bets Here