Pricey Uncle Mo Colt Among Japanese Debuters

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo, Fukushima and Hakodate Racecourses:

Saturday July 1, 2023
5th-HAK, ¥13,780,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
DONA NOBLE (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Gender Agenda {GB}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) cost JS Company $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and is out of a mare who upset the GIII Robert J. Frankel S. in 2015 for Carla Gaines and owners Keith Brackpool, Alon Ossip and Tim Ritvo. Gender Agenda changed hands for $80,000 at Keeneland November last fall and produced a filly by Violence this season. The deeper female family includes G1 Oaks and St Leger victress User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}). B-Town & Country Horse Farms LLC (KY)

6th-FKS, ¥13,780,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1150m
ESCALE (c, 2, American Pharoah–Pretty Girl {Arg}, by Harlan's Holiday) is the latest to make the races from his well-traveled dam, a Group 1 winner in her native Argentina for Stud RDI in 2014, a listed winner in France for Mikel Delzangles in 2016 and twice placed at Grade II level in California in 2017, with Bonne Chance Farm part of the ownership. Escale was a $310,000 purchase by Koji Maeda at Keeneland last September. B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY)

11th-FKS, ¥35,040,000 ($242k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m
AIR SAGE (h, 5, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) won three of his first four career appearances and did not disgrace when beaten just over eight lengths into eighth behind Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the 2021 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger). He makes his first start since a dead-heat third in a 10-furlong allowance in February 2022 and switches to the dirt, a surface his family has proven more than capable over. Half-brother Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) is a Group 3 winner on dirt, while full-brother Air Anemoi successfully negotiated the surface when tried for the first time Apr. 30. Nokaze is a half-sister to the stakes-placed dam of dirt GSW Yuugiri (Shackleford). Keita Tosaki sees fit to ride. B-Winchester Farm (KY)

 

 

 

Sunday, July 2, 2023
5th-HAK, ¥13,720,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
KANJI (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Nikki's Choice, by Forestry), a $600,000 KEESEP acquisition and the year-younger full-brother to $1.1-million KEESEP grad Evergrande, is bred on the exact same cross as champion Nyquist. The colt's unraced second dam Charming Lauren (Meadowlake) was a full-sister to GI Champagne S. winner Greenwood Lake and a half to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Success Express (Hold Your Peace) and MGSW/MGISP Charlie Barley (Affirmed). Top jockey Takeshi Yokoyama takes the call. B-Aaron Sones (KY)

 

 

 

5th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
ROUGE STUNNING (JPN) (f, 2, Into Mischief–Boyne Beauty, by Giant's Causeway), a half-sister to recent Ellis maiden romper Check Engine Light (Uncle Mo), was acquired in utero for $700,000 by Nobutaka Tada at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The filly's unraced dam is a daughter of MSW & GSP Bubbler (Distorted Humor), herself responsible for the late Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and SW Osare (Medaglia d'Oro), whose first foal Quester (Into Mischief) fetched $775,000 from Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low at KEESEP last year. B-Mint Co

 

 

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Seven-Figure Mendelssohn Colt On Debut at Hanshin

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. The weekend's main event takes place Sunday at Hanshin, where the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) returns in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen:

Saturday, June 24, 2023
4th-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
TOMODACHI (c, 3, Mendelssohn–Grace Is Gone, by Malibu Moon), a $100,000 purchase out of the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, matured nicely into a $235,000 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling and was one of five horses to breach the seven-figure threshold when fetching $1.3 million from trainer Mitsu Nakauchida at the 2022 OBS April Sale (breeze video). A late January foal, the chestnut is maternal grandson of Grade I-placed Grace Anatomy (Aldebaran), whose stakes-placed daughter Retro (Giant's Causeway) accounted for recent Churchill maiden winner American Retro (American Pharoah). B-Marcus Stables LLC (KY)

Sunday, June 25, 2023
5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
DANON SWITCH (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Switch In Time {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida in utero for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, and the February foal repaid that bill and then some when hammering to Danox Co. for the equivalent of $1,359,264 at the JRHA Select Sale in 2021. Switch In Time is out of dual Grade I winner Switch (Quiet American), who is also responsible for the Irish Group 3-placed Kiss You Later (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Shunsuke Yoshida

MAPLE GANG (c, 2, War Front–Crimson Maple, by Rahy) is a half-brother to four winners from five to race and is a half-brother to five-time stakes winner Goldwood (Medaglia d'Oro). A $200,000 KEESEP yearling, the Apr. 17 foal is out of a daughter of GISW Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), the dam of 1993 Filly Triple Crown heroine Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Maplejinsky also serves as the granddam of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), MGSW & MGISP Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold), GISW Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat) and GSW Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat). Crimson Maple passed away this year, but has left behind a filly by Medaglia d'Oro. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)

6th-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
BREGAGH ROAD (JPN) (c, 3, Quality Road–Photo Call {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for his dam, who first changed hands for $3 million at Keeneland November in 2015 after winning that year's GI Rodeo Drive S. and would pad her resume when taking out the GI First Lady S. the following season. Photo Call was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $2.7 million with this colt in utero at KEENOV in 2019, and is also responsible for a Maurice (Jpn) colt that sold for nearly $1.2 million as a foal in 2021. Bregagh Road will carry the Carrot Farm colors. B-Northern Racing

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American Pharoah Filly Bags Summertime Oaks

Window Shopping (American Pharoah) pounced on long-time leader Ancient Peace (War Front) with a furlong to run in Saturday's GII Summertime Oaks and edged away late to a first win at the graded stakes level.

Beaten for speed, the $700,000 Keeneland September purchase settled between rivals just behind the pace which was set inside by GI Kentucky Oaks third The Alys Look (Connect) with outside pressure from Ancient Peace. The well-backed second favorite, The Alys Look began to back out of it with three-eighths of a mile to race, leaving Ancient Peace alone on the lead, while farther back, Lily Poo (Tapiture) was traveling ominously well and loomed a threat three deep into the stretch. Ancient Peace battled on bravely at the fence, but Window Shopping kept grinding away beneath Hector Berrios, grabbed the front-runner with less than a furlong to travel and inched clear.

A troubled sixth in a one-mile turf maiden at Del Mar last November, Window Shopping romped by 16 1/2 lengths in an off-turf test going a mile here Mar. 17. That effort earned her a shot at the Apr. 8 GII Santa Anita Oaks and the chestnut gave a decent account of herself when seven lengths third and beaten just a half-length for second behind the then-unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin).

Pedigree Notes:

Window Shopping is the 36th worldwide stakes winner and 22nd group/graded winner for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Window Shopping's dam posted her career high in the 2015 GIII Monmouth Oaks and was second to America (A.P. Indy) in that year's GIII Turnback the Alarm H. Connections had her in training for a time at four in 2016, but she did not make another trip to the races and was purchased by International Equities Holding for $700,000 at Keeneland January in 2017, the second priciest offering of the auction.

Delightful Joy's first foal was Zainalarab (War Front), a $1-million graduate of the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, before Window Shopping was hammered down to Steve Young for $700,000 at the same event two years later. Delightful Joy is also represented by a yearling Into Mischief filly and was most recently covered by the same sire.

The cross of American Pharoah over Tapit mares has resulted in GISW Harvey's Lil Goil and Japanese listed winner Reframe.

Saturday, Santa Anita
SUMMERTIME OAKS-GII, $201,000, Santa Anita, 6-3, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.01, ft.
1–WINDOW SHOPPING, 120, f, 3, by American Pharoah
            1st Dam: Delightful Joy (GSW, $179,200), by Tapit
            2nd Dam: Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall
            3rd Dam: Polish Ruby, by Polish Pro
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($700,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S Bass.;
B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Richard E.
Mandella; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
4-2-0-1, $208,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ancient Peace, 120, f, 3, War Front–Deceptive Vision, by
A.P. Indy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($180,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG; $650,000 3yo '23 KEEJAN).
O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-John W.
Sadler. $40,000.
3–Lily Poo, 120, f, 3, Tapiture–Cool Moves, by Hold Me Back.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners;
B-Michael Meeks (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 3. Odds: 3.50, 15.70, 15.10.
Also Ran: Anywho, Doinitthehardway, The Alys Look, And Tell Me Nolies.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Queen Picasso Rules The Soaring Softly

Though trainer Christophe Clement had to scratch his expected morning-line favorite from this event, he had more than enough talent waiting in the wings as Queen Picasso (GB) (Kingman {GB}), off a debut victory at Gulfstream Apr. 5, made it two-for-two with a win in the GIII Soaring Softly S.

Unveiled around two turns in south Florida, the half-sister to G1SW Acclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) had already proven her affinity for the grass while her main rival, race-time favorite Lady Beth (Hard Spun), was forced to debut over the all-weather track at Gulfstream in a rained-off contest Feb. 2. Shortened up to the seven furlongs Saturday, Queen Picasso enjoyed a dream trip, jumping alertly and moving between rivals to race comfortably just off the outside of GIII Matron S. winner American Apple (American Pharoah). The field remained tightly bunched through an opening quarter in :23.06 and it was apparent that Jose Ortiz's filly wanted to run. She began to inch up on American Apple as they made their way around the far turn and the top pair was nearly on even terms past the quarter pole. With plenty left despite contesting a :45.83 half mile, Queen Picasso really began to draw away inside the furlong marker to win going away over American Apple.

“Jose [Ortiz] gave her a good ride,” said Clement. “They told me a lot of them [Kingman progeny] get a mile, so she might be a miler. She won well. The only thing I told Jose was to be careful, she can be a touch aggressive and a touch rank. I think he was a bit worried that the horse on the lead [No. 3, American Apple] would steal the race and that's the reason he kept at it.”

Pedigree Notes:

A top-five leading sire in Europe, Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) earned his 36th graded/group winner in the Northern Hemisphere Saturday with Queen Picasso's win. Aris (Ire) (Danroad {Aus}) has produced five winners from six foals to the make the races–her best being Acclaim (Ire), winner of the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. The dam herself is a half-sister to MG1SW Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who went on to produce a pair of group-placed Galileo full-siblings in Delphina (Ire) and Delano Roosevelt (Ire). Further back in the family is European champion 3-year-old colt Montjeu (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Queen Picasso's now 2-year-old half-brother by Advertise (GB) failed to meet his reserve when bringing a final bid of 280,000gns.

Saturday, Belmont Park
SOARING SOFTLY S.-GIII, $169,750, Belmont, 5-27, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:21.24, fm.
1–QUEEN PICASSO (GB), 118, f, 3, by Kingman (GB)
             1st Dam: Aris (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Danroad (Aus)
             2nd Dam: Cumbres (Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire)
              rd Dam: Floripedes, by Top Ville (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (200,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Siena Farm LLC, Michael E. Kisber, Peter Deutsch & The Elkstone Group, LLC (Stuart Grant); B-D. Farrington And Canning Downs (GB); T-Christophe Clement; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $138,250. *1/2 to Aclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), G1SW-Fr, MGSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, $595,666. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–American Apple, 123, f, 3, American Pharoah–Miss Mary Apples, by Clever Trick. ($600,000 RNA 2yo '22 KEENOV). O-KatieRich Stables LLC; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Daniel Leitch. $35,000.
3–Lady Beth, 118, f, 3, Hard Spun–Boreale, by Makfi (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($20,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $67,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $390,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Richard Schermerhorn; B-J. D. Stuart, P. C. Bance & Godolphin (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $21,000.
Margins: 2, NK, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.85, 2.45, 1.10.
Also Ran: Quarrel, Senior Prank. Scratched: Love Appeals.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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