Mr. C. B. (Japanese: ミスターシービー, Hepburn: Misutā Shī Bī; 7 April 1980 – 15 December 2000) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and stud. In 1983, he won the Japanese Triple Crown, becoming the third horse to do so after St Lite and Shinzan. In recognition of this feat and his other strong showings, Mr. C. B. was named Japanese Horse of the Year for 1983 by the JRA, and would later be inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1986. He was also the first Triple Crown winner to be ridden by the same jockey, Masato Yoshinaga, from his debut until his retirement.
Mr. C. B. died of laminitis on 15 December 2000.
Background Mr. C. B. was a bay horse bred in Japan by Chigira Bokujo. He was sired by Tosho Boy, Satsuki Sho, Arima Kinen, Takarazuka Kinen and Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner. Tosho Boy was nicknamed "Pegasus" due to his racing performance. Tosho Boy is also an ancestor of Kikuka Sho winner Matikanefukukitaru and Singapore Airlines International Cup winner Cosmo Bulk. Mr C. B.'s mother, C. B. Queen, was also a successful racehorse who won races such as the Mainichi Okan and the Keio Hai Spring Cup. C. B. Queen and Tosho Boy both debuted in the same maiden race.
Mr C. B. was not given a unique name at birth and was known as "C. B. Queen 1" until a unique name was given. His initials "C. B." stand for Chigira Bokujō (), his birthplace.Many of Tosho Boy's offspring had an unstable rear-oriented centre of gravity, however Mr C. B. had a solid waist and was known as "a horse that inherited only the good traits of Tosho Boy."
After being weaned at Okamoto Farm, Mr C. B. was moved to Chigira Farm in Gunma Prefecture in March 1981. This farm was owned by C. B. Queen's owner and her breeder, and was where Mr. C. B. underwent training.
When he reached the age of 3, he was given the racing name "Mr. C. B.," and entered Matsuyama Yasuhisa's stable at the Miho Training Center in Ibaraki Prefecture. Initially, Mr C. B. was scheduled to be under the care of Matsuyama Yoshisaburo, who also looked after C. B. Queen, but it was changed to his son Yasuhisa.
Racing statistics Mr. C. B. recorded a total of 8 wins for 15 starts, including one graded win, the G1 Autumn Tenno Sho. His classic triple crown victories were part of the "eight major races", the classification for the most prestigious races in Japan before the introduction of the grading system in 1984. Retroactively applying the grades his races received in 1984, Mr. C. B. would hold the equivalent of 6 graded wins, including 4 Grade or Group 1 victories.
All information is publicly available on JBIS and Netkeiba. +DateTrackNameGradeDistanceFinishedTimeJockeyWinner (2nd Place)1982 - two-year-old season6 November 1982Tokyo3 yo Debut1600m1:38.5Masato Yoshinaga(Hirataka Eiko)4 December 1982NakayamaKuromatsu Sho1600m1:36.3Masato Yoshinaga(Yu Fubuki)25 December 1982NakayamaHiiragi Sho1800m1:50.4Masato YoshinagaUmeno Shin O1983 - three-year-old season13 February 1983TokyoKyodo Tsushin Hai1800m1:49.5Masato Yoshinaga(Umeno Shin O)6 March 1983NakayamaHochi Hai Yayoi Sho1800m1:50.2Masato Yoshinaga(Speed Tri)17 April 1983NakayamaSatsuki Sho八2000m2:08.3Masato Yoshinaga(Mejiro Mont Cenis)29 May 1983TokyoTokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby)八2400m2:29.5Masato Yoshinaga(Mejiro Mont Cenis)23 October 1983KyotoKyoto Shimbun Hai2000m4th2:03.2Masato YoshinagaKatsuragi Ace13 November 1983KyotoKikuka Sho八3000m3:08.1Masato Yoshinaga(Bingo Kanta)1984 - four-year-old season7 October 1984TokyoMainichi OkanG21800m1:47.5Masato YoshinagaKatsuragi Ace28 October 1984TokyoTenno Sho (Autumn)G12000m1:59.3Masato Yoshinaga(Tudenham King)25 November 1984TokyoJapan CupG12400m10th2:28.2Masato YoshinagaKatsuragi Ace23 December 1984NakayamaArima KinenG12500m2:33.3Masato YoshinagaSymboli Rudolf1985 - five-year-old season31 March 1985HanshinSankei Osaka HaiG22000m2:01.4Masato YoshinagaState Jaguar29 April 1985KyotoTenno Sho (Spring)G13200m5th3:22.3Masato YoshinagaSymboli Rudolf
Stud record Notable progeny c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding Foaled Name Sex Major Wins1987Yamanin GlobalcDaily Hai Nisai Stakes, Meguro Kinen, Copa Republica Argentina1987Meisho VitoriagStayers Stakes1987Sweet MithunafQueen Cup
In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of Mr. C. B. appears as a character in the Japanese multimedia franchise Umamusume: Pretty Derby, voiced by Yurina Amami. She is a free-spirited, cheerful, and charismatic young woman who utilizes unconventional tactics in racing. She was born to a trainer and trainee couple whose eloping resulted in a scandal, reflecting her real-world counterpart's foaling and controversy surrounding it. She is a close friend and rival of Symboli Rudolf and Katsuragi Ace, and lives off-campus like Maruzensky.
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