Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

FUCHU, Japan - Gentildonna crosses the finish line to win the 73rd Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse on May 20, 2012. Gentildonna, who went off as the third choice in a full field of 18, smashed the race record by 1.7 seconds, cutting a time of 2 minutes, 23.6 seconds.

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

FUCHU, Japan - Gentildonna (14) gallops to victory in the 73rd Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse on May 20, 2012. Gentildonna, who went off as the third choice in a full field of 18, smashed the race record by 1.7 seconds, cutting a time of 2 minutes, 23.6 seconds. Verxina (9) and Ice Follies (3) finished second and third separately.

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

FUCHU, Japan - Gentildonna (14) gallops to victory in the 73rd Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse on May 20, 2012. Gentildonna, who went off as the third choice in a full field of 18, smashed the race record by 1.7 seconds, cutting a time of 2 minutes, 23.6 seconds. Verxina (9) and Ice Follies (3) finished second and third separately. (Kyodo)

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

Gentildonna wins Japanese Oaks

FUCHU, Japan - Gentildonna crosses the finish line to win the 73rd Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse on May 20, 2012. Gentildonna, who went off as the third choice in a full field of 18, smashed the race record by 1.7 seconds, cutting a time of 2 minutes, 23.6 seconds. (Kyodo)

Institute releases photo of M-5 rocket's failed launch

Institute releases photo of M-5 rocket's failed launch

TOKYO, Japan - This is a photo of an M-5 rocket's failed launch Feb. 10, published by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which is part of the Education Ministry, on Feb. 21. The photo was taken 1.7 seconds after liftoff at Uchinoura, Kagoshima Prefecture. Small red-colored fragments of graphite are seen above the flames. The institute suspects these fragments are connected with the launch's failure.