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 is one horse of interest for this weekend running Saturday at Hanshin Racecourse, while Sunday's program at Tokyo features the first Group 1 of the new year–the February S.–and the Listed Hyacinth S., with Kentucky Derby points on the line. Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) defends his title in the former, while a pair of US-breds take their chance in the Hyacinth:
Saturday, February 19, 2022 11th-HSN, Kyoto Himba S.-G3, ¥72m ($626k), 4/up, f/m, 1400mT LOTUS LAND (m, 5, Point of Entry–Little Miss Muffet, by Scat Daddy) blossomed during her 4-year-old season in 2021, winning half of her eight starts, including the Listed Yonago S. in June and an 8-1 upset of the 1600-meter G3 Sekiya Kinen in August (see below, SC 6) to surpass $1 million in career earnings. Though she was 12th when last seen in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in November, she was beaten just over five lengths and there will be nothing in this field near the quality of Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was successfully defending her title in her career swansong. B-Dr Aaron Sones & Dr Naoya Yoshida (KY)
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, Kokura and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's group-level action at Tokyo includes the G3 Kyodo News Hai featuring 3-year-old colts out Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf runner-up Coasted (Tizway), each sourced for seven-figure pricetags at U.S. breeding stock sales:
Saturday, February 12, 2022 2nd-KOK, ¥9,900,000 ($85k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200mT ANGELSILICA (f, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}–Brave Anna, by War Front) hit the board in a pair of appearances over this distance at Fukushima to begin her career, but was ninth when stretched to seven furlongs when last seen at Chukyo Dec. 19. A $150K Keeneland September purchase by the Maeda family's North Hills, the bay–who celebrates her calendar birthday Saturday–is out of the 2016 G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. heroine Brave Anna, one of two $3-million purchases by Masahiro Miki at Fasig-Tipton November last fall when offered in foal to Quality Road. Brave Anna is a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero and Spendthrift stallion Hit It a Bomb, GSP Border Town and SP Threeandfourpence. B-Mrs E Stockwell (KY)
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m BEAT EMOTION (c, 3, Quality Road–J. Quirk, by Unbridled's Song), a half-brother to 2021 GIII Remington Park Oaks victress Lady Mystify (Bernardnini), fetched $190K at KEESEP in 2021 and was resold to prominent owner Yuji Hasegawa for $600K at FTFMAR last year after breezing a furlong in :10 2/5 (see below). The colt's third dam is Cee's Song (Seattle Song), whose produce include Horse of the Year/MGISW Tiznow, MGSW & MGISP Budroyale and GSW Tizdubai. J. Quirk was purchased for $725K by Breeze Easy in foal to Gun Runner at KEENOV last fall. B-Scott & Evan Dilworth (KY)
10th-HSN, ¥35,040,000 ($302k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2000mT AIR SAGE (c, 4, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) won three of his first four starts at three, including a tough front-running score in a 13-furlong allowance at Sapporo in August (see below, SC 4) that led to a respectable eighth in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) in October. The half-brother to GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) was produced by a half-sister to the dam of GSP Yuugiri (Shackleford), who is gearing up for her sophomore debut in the near future. Another half-brother to Air Sage, Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), is entered for the Listed Rakuyo S. (1600mT) in the race immediately following this event. B-Winchester Farm (KY)
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 Nakayama and Chukyo Racecourses. American-bred Cafe Pharoah and the American-sired Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) are among a field of 16 for Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo, a group led by the rail-drawn 3-year-old filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune). Click here for a preview:
Saturday, December 4, 2021 4th-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT SPEED GLAMOUR (f, 2, Into Mischief–Island Escape, by Petionville) has finished runner-up in her last two, a seven-furlong turf maiden at Tokyo Oct. 10 and a similar finish over that main track 13 days later (see below, SC 3). A $250K Keeneland September RNA turned $500,000 OBS March breezer is out of a three-time stakes-winning mare who is also responsible for Tricky Escape (Hat Trick {Jpn}), herself a treble Grade III winner on turf (x2) and sloppy dirt. This is also the extended female family of Grade I winners Wild Syn (Wild Again) and Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor). B-Machmer Hall (KY)
Sunday, December 5, 2021 4th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m FREUD SENSE (c, 2, Street Sense–Fenwick Hall, by Freud) is the second foal from his stakes-placed dam, a full-sister to MSW Miss Narcissist. Bought back on a bid of $110K at KEESEP last fall, the New York-bred fetched $160K at OBSMAR after working a quarter-mile in :21 flat. Freud Sense hails from the female family of Mighty Eros (Freud), the stakes-winning dam of GSW & GISP Faypien (Ghostzapper). B-Final Furlong Stable (NY)
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 Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses. The latter venue hosts a white-hot renewal of the G1 Mile Championship S. Sunday afternoon, where Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn} x Tapitsfly) looks to defend her title in her final career start. Among the competition is G1 NHK Mile Cup hero Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}):
Saturday, November 20, 2021 4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m GLUTTON LASSIE (f, 2, American Pharoah–Brassy Lassie, by City Zip) cost $40K as a Keeneland September yearling last fall, but showed a good deal of improvement over the next six months and was hammered down for $350K at OBS March this spring after working an eighth of a mile in :10 flat. The February foal is out of a half-sister to GSW Saham (Lemon Drop Kid) and her third dam Ticket To Houston (Houston) produced MGSW/MGISP Runway Model (Petionville), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star', four-time GISW and Gainesway stallion McKinzie (Street Sense). Christophe Lemaire has accepted the call. B-Fleur De Lis Stable & Ashford Stud (KY)
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT SUGAR FLOAT (f, 2, Mohaymen–She's Gonna Float, by Horse Chestnut {SAf}) is out of a half-sister to GSW & GISP Wild Shot (Tapit) who was acquired by this breeder for $14,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton February Sale. The May-foaled gray filly, whose year-older half-brother Where's Joey (Tapizar) wired a field of Parx maidens Oct. 25, counts GISW Preach (Mr. Prospector) as her third dam. The latter accounted for the late, influential Pulpit as well as the dam of SW/GISP Endless Chatter (First Samurai) and SW/G1SP Whitecliffsofdover (War Front). B-Hidaka Farm (KY)
Sunday, November, 21, 2021 8th-TOK, ¥21,000,000 ($184k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2100m CAREERISM (c, 3, Upstart–Out of Goodbyes, by Out of Place) was second in his first two career appearances before scoring by open lengths in early May and following up in allowance company three weeks later. He'll face older rivals for the first time here, including 5-year-old Danon Luster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a son of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior). An $85K Fasig-Tipton November weanling, Careerism was sold for $120K at FTKJUL in 2019 and made $200K at the 202 OBSMAR sale. B-Golden Pedigree LLC (KY)
9th-HSN, ¥19,110,000 ($167k), Allowance, 2yo, 1400mT PER AA (f, 2, American Pharoah–Nomee, by City Zip) validated 12-5 favoritism in a 1400-meter newcomers' event over the adjacent dirt oval Oct. 23 (see below, SC 1) and looks to make it two-for-two with a switch to the grass this weekend. The $210K KEENOV weanling purchase is out of an unraced half-sister to MGSW Secret Gypsy (Sea of Secrets), who was sold to Japanese interests at KEEJAN in 2011 and is the dam of six winners from seven to race. Secret Gypsy passed away in 2019. B-Zayat Stables LLC (KY)
