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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: June 20 & 21, 2020

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 Hakodate and Hanshin Racecourses. The most important race of the weekend takes place Sunday at Toyko, which plays host to the G3 Unicorn S., one of two new races on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Four US-bred and one US-conceived sophomores are among the field of 16 for the 1600-meter test, which will be previewed in Saturday’s TDN:

Saturday, June 20, 2020
7th-HAK, ¥14,360,000 ($134k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000m
ISSHIN (c, 3, Take Charge Indy–Appealing Stella, by Closing Argument), a debut third over 1200 meters in December, shortened up to this trip and made nearly every yard of the running to graduate by eight lengths the following month (see below, gate 11). Exiting a close fourth back over six furlongs in March, the $15K Keeneland November weanling, $32K KEESEP buyback and $100K OBS March breezer should take all the beating. B-Stonecliff Farm (FL)

Sunday, June 21, 2020
5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
LINCOLN TESORO (c, 2, Carpe Diem–Santa Vindi, by Vindication), a $75K purchase last fall at KEESEP, is a half-brother to Flexibility (Bluegrass Cat), a debut winner and multiple Grade II-placed at two before winning the GIII Jerome S. in his sophomore debut in 2016. The colt’s dam is a daughter of MGSW Santa Catalina (Cure the Blues), who was responsible for GISW Golden Missile (A.P. Indy) and sold for $150K with Lincoln Tesoro in utero at KEENOV in 2017. B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY)

8th-HSN, ¥14,360,000 ($134k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600mT
LOTUS LAND (f, 3, Point of Entry–Little Miss Muffet, by Scat Daddy) was a debut winner over course and distance last September and has since finished second in two of three starts, including a near-miss when trying 1800 meters at Toyko off a December layoff May 23 (video, gate 7). Hailing from the deeper female family of the now Japan-domiciled US GISW Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer), Lotus Land will be suited by this drop back to the mile and over a track with a more abbreviated run to the wire than at Toyko. B-Dr Aaron Sones & Dr Naoya Yoshida (KY)

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Journeyman Sheldon Russell Picking Up Where He Left Off At Laurel Park

Coming off his healthiest and most productive season in half a decade, journeyman Sheldon Russell came into 2020 with both confidence and momentum. Once the calendar flipped, he maintained his spot among Maryland's leading riders – until the world stopped.

The coronavirus pandemic put the state's live racing on pause from mid-March until returning in late May at Laurel Park, and the 32-year-old Russell hasn't wasted any time getting back in the groove.

Entering the fourth weekend of Laurel's summer meet Russell sits atop the rider standings with 12 wins, two ahead of Jevian Toledo – who, like Russell, is represented by agent Marty Leonard – and Trevor McCarthy.

Russell is named in eight of nine racing when live racing resumes Friday, June 19 and has calls in seven of nine races on the Saturday, June 20 program. Post time both days is 12:40 p.m.

“All I can really say is last year we got back up and rolling and things were good. I was getting on the right horses and then, unfortunately, we were forced to shut down,” Russell said. “If anything, it just makes me feel good that once we got back up and started again I sort of picked up where we left off.

“I'm getting the support from some good trainers and riding some really nice horses,” he added. “It's easy to say it makes my job easier, but the trainers I'm riding for are winning so it certainly helps.”

A winner on the May 30 re-opening program, Russell has won with 11 of his last 25 mounts (44 percent), including a stretch of six-for-11 (55 percent) June 6 and 8. He registered hat tricks on both days, and had two more on Laurel's most recent card June 13.

Married to trainer Brittany Russell, who is tied for third with four wins from just 10 starters, Russell is 12-for-41 (29 percent) overall and ranks second in purse earnings with $284,604, less than $40,000 behind McCarthy.

“We sat on the sidelines and, of course, you're anxious to get back, But, at the same time we're running two days a week, and to be able to win two or three races a day it puts you in a good spot,” Russell said. “I'm very fortunate. My agent is doing a great job. Our other rider, he's winning races, too, so he's definitely doing something right.

“We've got the support from really good outfits and luckily enough the horses coming off the shelf have all been running well. It helps that Brittany's barn is on fire right now, so that gives me a push, as well,” he added. “I'm very fortunate. I'm happy to be back and riding, I'm happy to be healthy, and I couldn't have asked for a better start.”

Maryland's leading rider in 2011 who owns seven individual meet titles, five coming at Laurel, Russell had the unique pleasure of winning aboard Russeldoingthings in a waiver maiden claimer June 8. In addition to sharing his name, the 3-year-old Golden Lad colt is trained by his wife.

“Everyone thinks there's a story behind it, but to tell you the truth he was actually named before he came into Brittany's barn. Brittany would love to be the one to say, 'Let's name this one, he's working good,' but he was already named,” Russell said. “It's just funny how it worked out and that he's in Brittany's barn. He ran great.”

Russeldoingthings also benefitted from a great ride by Russell, who saved ground early breaking from Post 3 in a bulky field of 13 before weaving through traffic to take the lead in the stretch, then pull clear and finish up in hand to capture his unveiling by 1 ½ lengths in the six-furlong sprint. It wasn't altogether surprising for the connections, whose 3-year-old stablemate Wondrwherecraigis also debuted with a victory March 13 then came back with an allowance triumph June 6.

“To be fair, he always works good in the morning. His workmate was Wondrwherecraigis and Craig won the maiden special weight and then wheeled back and won the a-other-than, so we were sort of waiting for [Russel's] time to shine,” Russell said. “It was nice to see him run like that because those stablemates were working heads up against each other, and to see how Craig ran we were very excited to run Russel. He's a cool horse and that was a special win for us.”

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Iowa HBPA Offering Financial Assistance to Members

As Prairie Meadows Racetrack opens its doors for the 2020 season Friday, the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association is offering a pair of programs designed to assist its members who might be feeling a financial pinch as a result of the delays caused by the coronavirus.

Trainers may apply for $100 in assistance per Thoroughbred racehorse stabled at the Altoona track under the COVID-19 Horsemen’s Assistance Program. The deadline to apply for the program is 3 p.m. CT Tuesday, June 30.

The Iowa HBPA has also created the COVID-19 Dorm Room Assistance Program to help trainers cover any expenses incurred in moving to Prairie Meadows. Trainers can apply for a loan of up to $300 per dorm room, with an agreement to repay the HBPA by Dec. 15, 2020.

“It boils down to free money and an interest-free loan,” said Iowa HBPA president Dave McShane. “We encourage all our Thoroughbred horsemen to apply for these programs. I don’t know a trainer who can’t use an extra $100 per horse, especially as a bridge until we’re able to get into a stretch of unimpeded racing.”

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Combined Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up And July Catalog Now Online

The catalog for the 2020 Tattersalls July Sale can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com and will be published on Monday, June 22.

The July Sale, numbering 572 lots, will commence on Thursday, July 9, the day after the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale, and comprises 488 horses and fillies in/out of training and 80 broodmares, four of which have foals at foot. Taking place Wednesday, July 8 – Friday, July 10, in addition to the 157 high-class Guineas Breeze Up 2-year-olds, the three-day sale features high quality consignments from many of the world's leading owner/breeders including Cheveley Park Stud, Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms, Shadwell Estates and The Royal Studs.

Long established as Europe's premier midsummer sale, the Tattersalls July Sale has produced the dams of an impressive 13 individual Group 1 winners since 2016, including the 2019 Group 1 winners Ten Sovereigns, Fairyland and Watch Me for 32,000, 65,000 and 75,000 guineas respectively. The dam of last year's impressive Group 2 Richmond Stakes winning two year old Golden Horde, twice placed in Group 1 company, was also purchased from the sale for only 14,000 guineas.

The major owner/breeders Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates have 106 lots catalogued between them, while the 80 broodmares include mares in foal to proven Group 1 sires Dutch Art, Iffraaj, Intello, Kodiac, New Approach, Oasis Dream, Showcasing, Tamayuz, Zoffany and Zoustar. Young sires are equally well-represented with mares in foal to exciting Group 1 winners Blue Point, Caravaggio, Cracksman, Expert Eye, Golden Horn, Harry Angel, Masar, New Bay, Night of Thunder, Profitable, Ribchester, Territories, Twilight Son and Ulysses.

Eye-catching lots amongst the broodmares include the Shadwell consigned Raasekha, a listed-placed half-sister to Champion sprinter Muhaarar in foal to Tamayuz, and Juddmonte's beautifully bred Group 3 winner Sense of Joy, in foal to the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club winner New Bay who has already been represented by two exciting 2-year-old winners.

Also likely to attract attention is the Jamie Railton consigned Storming Sioux, the dam of dual Group 3 winner Prince of Arran, in foal to Group 1 winner Mondialiste, whilst the Listed scorers Tunkwa and Go Angellica form part of a typically strong Godolphin consignment and are offered in foal to Golden Horn and Harry Angel respectively.

Other mares from high profile families include Cheveley Park's Heavenly Bliss, a daughter of the two-time Group 3 Dahlia Stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placed Heaven Sent, from the excellent family of dual Group 1 winner Megahertz, and Classic Code, a Galileo daughter of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Saoire offered by the Castlebridge Consignment in foal to Harry Angel and with a filly foal by Muhaarar at foot.

Opportunities also abound for buyers amongst the 488 horses and fillies in/out of training with proven group and listed performers including the smart Momkin, runner-up in the Group 3 Craven Stakes last year and with an official rating of 106. Jim Bolger's talented duo of Geometrical and Agitare, placed in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and Group 2 Golden Fleece Stakes respectively in 2019 also look certain to attract attention. Winning, unexposed performers from the Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates consignments will as ever attract plenty of interest and other notably promising horses in training include Repaupo, the winner of two of his four starts for John Gosden.

In addition to highly rated colts and geldings in training the July catalog also features an abundance of well-bred fillies in and out of training. Juddmonte Farms consign Contestant, the own-sister to Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Emulous, as well as At Ease, a daughter of the Grade 1 American Oaks winner Jostle. Shadwell Stud consign Monya, a half-sister to Group 2 winners Hawksmoor and Royal Dornoch, whilst Godolphin offer Euphemism, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Criticism. Roger Varian's Carlburg Stables present A Day at the Races, a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Best Solution, whilst Owen Burrows' Kingwood House Stables consign Eadlibb, a daughter of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes winner Zahrat Dubai.

Commenting on the 2020 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said;

“The Tattersalls July Sale has been a remarkably consistent source of Group 1 producers and performers on the global stage and 2019 was an exceptional year with six individual Group 1 winners produced by graduates of the sale. Alongside fillies and mares from outstanding international families, the July Sale offers an abundance of progressive and proven horses in training that look set to appeal to a broad cross-section of buyers from throughout the world.”

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