>>534327076
>one of the earliest G1s
>full-on 18 horses
>most people are still bond hunting by junior year late dec so chances of not meeting stat checks are high
>gold ship is a constant
Due to the combination of these factors, Hopeful Stakes has a high chance of making your uma job horribly. Still, it's a great race spark to farm for and any energy lost in the race is recovered in the next turn (the New Year's event), so there's zero reason not to run it if your uma is able to.

>>533938068
Danchode can suck my fat cock

The fastest racer wins the Satsuki Sho. The strongest racer wins the Kikusha Sho. As for the pinnacle of Japanese racing and a dream for many... in the Hopeful Stakes it is not speed or strength but luck that determines the winner.