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Lovely Day Sires First Stakes Winner At Hanshin

Gruner Green (Jpn), by Japanese champion and G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn)/G1 Takarazuka Kinen victor Lovely Day (Jpn), turned in a pillar-to-post effort to win the G3 Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai S. by a head at Hanshin on Saturday. He is his sire's first stakes winner from three crops to race.

Fifth choice on the board at 13-1, the Ikuo Aizawa trainee strode out to an early lead and covered a first quarter in :24 flat, while hard-pressed by Bikini Boy (Jpn) (Beach Patrol {Jpn}). That pair raced in tandem from three furlongs into the race, before Gruner Green edged away to lead on the backstretch. The chestnut reached the half-way point in 1:00.40, and showed no signs of weakening several furlongs later, as the field fanned into the home straight.

Held together superbly by Mirco Demuro, as 8-1 shot Top Knife (Jpn) (Declaration Of War) rallied in determined fashion up the inner, Gruner Green just lasted for a narrow score. Wurttemberg (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) made up some late ground to take third, another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Third at first asking over 2000 metres at Tokyo on Oct. 9, Gruner Green graduated there with a stalking trip after cutting back to 1800 metres on Oct. 29.

Pedigree Notes

With his eldest foals just 4-year-olds, Lovely Day's first stakes winner and group winner is Gruner Green. He also has the two-time listed-placed Praelude (Jpn) to his name.

The Special Week (Jpn) mare Lady Derby (Jpn) placed three times at two and three, and hit black-type pay dirt with only her second foal, the Jungle Pocket (Jpn) colt Verde Green (Jpn), who would go on to win a pair of Japanese group races. Now with a dozen foals to her credit, with 11 runners and eight winners, Lady Derby was covered by Cheval Grand (Jpn), but no foal was reported for this year. Second dam Umeno Fiber (Jpn) (Sakura Yutaka O {Jpn}), a champion in her native land and the 1999 Japanese Oaks heroine, is the granddam of the stakes winner and G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas runner-up Sans Rival (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn})

Saturday, Hanshin, Japan
RADIO NIKKEI HAI KYOTO NISAI S.-G3, ¥63,360,000, Hanshin, 11-26, 2yo, 2000mT, 2:00.50, fm.
1–GRUNER GREEN (JPN), 121, c, 2, by Lovely Day (Jpn)
1st Dam: Lady Derby (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Umeno Fiber (Jpn), by Sakura Yutaka O (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Umeno Rosa (Jpn), by Northern Dictator
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mitsumasa Saito;
B-Homma Farm (Jpn); T-Ikuo Aizawa; J-Mirco Demuro;
¥33,532,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1. *1/2 to Verde Green
(Jpn) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), MGSW-Jpn, $2,000,586. Click for
   the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Top Knife (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Declaration of War–Be Wind (Jpn),
by Spinning World. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Koji Yasuhara;
B-Kineusu Farm (Jpn); ¥13,152,000.
3–Wurttemberg (Jpn), 121, c, 2, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Maruka
Aichan (Jpn), by French Deputy. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP
   BLACK TYPE. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn);
¥8,376,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 13.40, 7.60, 41.20.
Also Ran: Stahl Wind (Jpn), Night Castle (Jpn), Grande Venus (Jpn), Lord Prayer (Jpn), Ezo Daimon (Jpn), Psy Breaker, Timur (Jpn), Cosmo Sagarmatha (Jpn), Smaragdos (Jpn), I'll Shine (Jpn), Alexa (Jpn), Bikini Boy (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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Japan: Circle Of Life Wraps Up 2-Year-Old Filly Title In Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Circle of Life marked her first G1 victory in this year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, her third win in a row from four career starts to become the champion two-year-old filly of 2021.

Kicking off her career in August with a third over 1,800 meters, the filly broke her maiden in her following start at a mile and landed her first grade-race title in her next Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m, or one mile) on Oct. 30. Trainer Sakae Kunieda picked up his 21st JRA-G1 title, the first since with Akaitorino Musume (the Shuka Sho) in October, and his second victory in this race after with Apapane in 2009. Jockey Mirco Demuro, whose last G1 victory this year was in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Uberleben, is now a winner of 34 JRA-G1 titles.

Circle of Life, after a smooth break, was unhurried while the race opened with a rush of horses scuffling for a good position in front and traveled in mid-field and three-wide throughout most of the trip. Still way behind turning for home, the Epiphaneia filly still had plenty of energy left to carry her further out for a clear path and mow down the stretch to reach contention after the furlong pole and engaged in a four-horse rally in the last 100 meters. While still having to brush off her foes once taking command with just 50 meters to the wire, the improving filly prevailed to a half a length victory.

“She was great today, she had a good break, and we had a smooth trip. We went wide at the stretch but the track was really good on the outside and the horses (in previous races of the day) seemed to stretch well along that path. My filly was closed well over the smooth track so I trusted her to make it and indeed she exhibited strong finishing speed. I was certain in the last 200 meters that she would win. I've ridden her since her debut and she really takes it in her stride in new surroundings and unfamiliar tracks so she has plenty of energy to use in the race. I'm sure she can further extend her distance in future races so I'm really looking forward that too,” commented jockey Mirco Demuro in the post-race interview.

Eight favorite Lovely Your Eyes was smooth out of the gate and was checked briefly as the horses in front disputed for the lead. Settling between rivals in mid-division around sixth along the backstretch, the Logotype filly met traffic into the stretch but escaped smartly for a clear run along the center lane inside Water Navillera who assumed command before the furlong pole. Joined by the eventual winner and Namur who loomed to contention from the inside, Lovely Your Eyes gave her all stretching her legs to out-finishing Water Navillera by 1/2 lengths while short of the winner by the same margin for second.

Water Navillera was smartly positioned in third along the rails and had a smooth trip and a clear run at the homestretch where she assumed command at early stretch. She continued gamely while joined by foes in the last 100 and while sustaining her bid to the end, was outrun by the first two finishers for third.

Race favorite Namur broke poorly and cost her the race as she traveled well behind the pace while saving ground. Her jockey smartly guided her along the inside route after turning for home and the filly showed a good turn of speed to reach contention in the critical stages but was unable to sustain her bid in the last strides and finished fourth, one-plus lengths from the winner.

Other Horses:
5th: (1) Namura Clair—hugged rails around 11th, switched to outside at early stretch, showed effort but no match for top finishers
6th: (16) Belle Cresta—settled 4-wide around 13th early, advanced after 3rd corner, failed to sustain bid
7th: (8) Sternatia—traveled 3-wide around 6th, lacked needed kick
8th: (5) Statistics—sat 2nd from rear, angled out, passed tired rivals
9th: (12) Anegohada—ran 3-wide around 4th, remained in contention up to 200m pole
10th: (7) Kimiwa Queen—took economic trip around 4th, showed response up to 200m pole
11th: (14) Saku—made headway from last to 13th, circled wide, never fired
12th: (9) Sea Cruise—positioned 3-wide around 13th, showed little at stretch
13th: (4) Toho la Vie en—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
14th: (15) Dark Page—set pace from wide draw, maintained lead until early stretch
15th: (6) Tana the Wing—raced around 13th, never threatened
16th: (18) Personal High—sat 4-wide around 6th, outrun at stretch
17th: (2) Namura Lycoris—saved ground around 6th, gradually fell back
18th: (3) Hinokuni—traveled around 10th, unable to reach contention

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Notable US-Breds in Japan: Aug. 22, 2021

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 Sunday running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses. Sunday's G3 Kitakyushu Kinen at Kokura, one of a couple of steppingstones to October's G1 Sprinters' S., has attracted US-bred GISW Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and GSW/G1SP Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) going the metric six furlongs:

Sunday, August 22, 2021
1st-SAP, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1500mT
SEA VIXEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai) is out of a four-time winning half-sister to MSP Pull Dancer (Pulpit), the dam of the versatile Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), a two-time graded winner and Grade I-placed on the main track and GSW/GISP on the grass; and GSW Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile). The February foal's third dam Emmaus (Silver Deputy) produced Wise Dan's sire Wiseman's Ferry (Hennessy) and was a half-sister to GSWs Della Francesca (Danzig), Country Cat (Storm Cat) and Bernstein (Storm Cat). A $130K Keeneland September yearling, Sea Vixen fetched $500K from Yuji Hasegawa after breezing a furlong in the bullet time of :9 4/5 at OBS this past March. B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY)

3rd-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
HANA KIRI (c, 2, Tapit–Tamarack Bay, by Dehere) was snapped up for $325K by trainer Hideyuki Mori on behalf of owner Tsuyoshi Ono at KEESEP last fall and looks to become the eighth winner from nine to race from his GSP dam. Of the seven previous winners, four have earned full black-type, including GISW Tamarando (Bertrando), GSW turf marathoner Ward 'N Jerry (Lucky Pulpit)–third in a Del Mar optional claimer Thursday–MSW Luckarack (Lucky Pulpit) and SW U'narack (Unusual Heat). To date, the all-conquering Tapit is the sire of 37 winners from 41 starters in Japan. Mirco Demuro sees fit to ride. B-Mr & Mrs Larry D Williams (KY)

5th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
JEAN GROS (c, 2, More Than Ready–Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush) was acquired by John Mayer's Nursery Place for $120K carrying this full-brother to MGSW & GISP Tom's Ready at Keeneland January in 2019 and led the colt out unsold on a bid of $130K at KEESEP in 2020. Pike Racing consigned the early March foal to this year's OBSMAR sale, where he was knocked down to the aforementioned Mori for $265K after breezing in :10 flat. Jean Gros is out of a half to the MSW dam of Deep Opus (Exchange Rate), a four-time winner of better than $600K in Japan. B-Nursery Place & Partners (KY)

6th-KOK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m
LA LA CHANDON (c, 3, Street Sense–Divine Praises, by Medaglia d'Oro) cost $260K at KEESEP in 2019 and is out of a full-sister to MGSW & GISP Valid and a half to GISW Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon). The colt's third dam Lyrical Prayer (The Minstrel) produced future GISW Swagger Jack (Smart Strike) when she was 18 years of age, a decade after foaling GSW Tap Dance (Pleasant Tap). The now 2-year-old out of Divine Praises, a filly named Harper's Road (Quality Road),was purchased by the Albaugh Family for $400K at KEESEP last fall. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY)

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Notable US-Bred and -Sired Runners in Japan: Aug. 7-8, 2021

Saturday, August 7, 2021
6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BEYOND THE FATHER (JPN) (c, 2, Curlin–Galileo's Song {Jpn}, by Galileo {Ire}), twice graded-placed on the grass for Dell Ridge Farm and Chad Brown, sold for $1 million with this foal in utero at the 2018 Keeneland November sale. Galileo's Song is out of Song to Remember (Storm Cat), who fetched $1.6 million in foal to Tiznow at Fasig-Tipton November in 2006 not long after her daughter Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song) came from last to win the GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. in New York. Top jockey Mirco Demuro sees fit to ride. B-Shimokobe Farm

7th-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
SCATTER SEED (JPN) (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Scatladybdancing, by Scat Daddy), a distant sixth on Tokyo debut in a single juvenile appearance, cut back in trip for a course-and-distance test and just missed when last seen July 24. The filly's stakes-placed dam, a full-sister to SW Ultima D, was acquired for $390K with the filly in utero at KEENOV in 2017. This is the extended female family of G1SW and successful young sire No Nay Never (Scat Daddy). B-Oiwake Farm

Sunday, August 8, 2021
4th-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
CARABELLA (JPN) (f, 3, Ghostzapper–Include Betty, by Include) is the first produce for her dam, last-to-first winner of the 2015 GI Mother Goose S. for Brereton C. Jones and Tim Thornton and trainer Tom Proctor. The filly hails from an active female family, as Include Betty is the half-sister to Gagetown (Exaggerator), narrow winner of the June 4 Prairie Mile and a latest third in the Iowa Derby July 2. The third dam includes GISW My Trusty Cat (Tale of the Cat) and GSP Entrustment (Forestry). B-Northern Racing

8th-HAK, ¥14,360,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2000mT
AIR SAGE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker), a half-brother to GSW and $1.6-million earner Air Almas (Majestic Warrior), made an enormous debut impression when scoring over this trip at Chukyo Jan. 5 (see below, gate 10) before finishing a close fifth when tried over 2400 meters Feb. 7. Produced by a half-sister to SW Yuzuru (Medaglia d'Oro) and from the deeper female family of Devil's Bag and Saint Ballado, Air Sage will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who currently holds a 22-win lead atop the JRA jockeys' premiership. B-Winchester Farm (KY)

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