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Notable US-Breds in Japan: Aug. 29, 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 this Sunday running at Kokura and Niigata Racecourses:

Sunday, August 29, 2021
5th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
PEACE FINE (c, 2, Gun Runner–Status Pending, by Tale of the Cat) is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to MSW & GSP Rock Candy (Mineshaft), GSP Canadian Game (Curlin) and to the dam of recent New York Stallion S. winner Sport Model (Freud) and SW Twirling Devon (Twirling Candy). A $35K Keeneland September graduate, the late April foal fetched $70K from trainer Hideyuki Mori in a private sale after breezing a quarter-mile in :22 2/5. Gun Runner has already been represented in Japan by debut winner Gran Aplauso. B-KatieRich Farms (KY)

5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
OKAMMO SCHACHO (f, 2, Lord Nelson–Appealing Stella, by Closing Argument) becomes the first local starter for her well-regarded first-crop sire (by Pulpit). The Florida-bred, a $52K acquisition out of last year's OBS October Sale, was another of trainer Mori's eight OBSMAR purchases, hammering for $170K after working a furlong in :10 flat. The Florida-bred's stakes winning dam is also responsible for OBS grad Isshin (Take Charge Indy), a three-time winner and $400K earner in Japan. B-Cindy & Bill Nassal (FL)

SUETONIUS (c, 2, Carpe Diem–Dance With Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) is the second for to the races from his dam, a winning full-sister to the classy MGISW Divisidero, who was acquired by Shadai Farm in 2017. The mare's first produce is Kitten's Waltz (Air Force Blue), a maiden winner from nine starts in Japan. B-Shadai Corporation (KY)

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Jockeys and Jeans Names Caesars Entertainment as Presenting Sponsor for Fundraiser

Jockeys and Jeans, a volunteer group dedicated to raising funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), has named Caesars Entertainment Inc. as the presenting sponsor for its 7th annual fundraising event Sept. 11 at Monmouth Park.

Founded in 2014 by five former jockeys, Jockeys and Jeans has raised more than $1.6 million to benefit the PDJF through a yearly stallion season sale and its annual fundraising event.

“As a company tightly aligned with horse racing, it was important for us to get involved with Jockeys and Jeans,” said Joe Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing at Caesars Entertainment. “Its mission to give back to former jockeys is an important one, and we're proud to serve as a presenting sponsor of their annual fundraising event to honor the legacy of so many great jockeys who love this sport.”

This year's event is expected to attract more than a dozen Hall of Fame jockeys to honor seven of their fallen brothers and sisters. There will be silent and live auctions of racing-related memorabilia and autograph sessions throughout the event. All funds generated will go directly to the PDJF to benefit injured former jockeys.

“Caesars Entertainment has stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam home run for disabled former jockeys,” said Barry Pearl, President of Jockeys and Jeans. “This is a watershed moment in the evolution of our group. I'm happy to say to every injured former jockey in the United States that Caesars Entertainment truly cares.”

The upcoming Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser will be held at the Turf Club at Monmouth Park. The event starts at 11:30 a.m., and tickets can be purchased at seatgeek.com/monmouth.

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Brown Launches Two-Pronged Attack on Sword Dancer

Chad Brown has two chances to capture his fourth renewal of Saratoga's GI Sword Dancer S. Saturday with morning-line favorite Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) and Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The event is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf S.

A two-time winner in his native France, Tribhuvan was privately purchased by these connections and moved Stateside to Brown. He scored his first Stateside win in his third attempt in a Belmont optional claimer last summer and was subsequently shelved. Making a victorious return in the May 1 GII Fort Marcy S. at Belmont, the gelding did all the heavy lifting in that venue's GI Manhattan S. June 5, only to be run down by stablemate Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and forced to settle for second. He bounced back with a front-running score in Monmouth's GI United Nations S. July 17.

“He surprised me that he's turned into the frontrunning horse that he is now,” Brown said. “We've gone on with it and he's changed since we gelded him as well. He's developing beyond my expectations and I'm really proud of the horse. He continues to get better.”

Third in the Fort Marcy, Rockemperor was fifth in the Manhattan and scored his first U.S. victory in a 10-furlong optional claimer at Belmont June 26. He was second to Cross Border (English Channel) last out in this venue's GII Bowling Green S. July 31.

“He ran well last time. He's a horse that's always knocking on the door in these bigger races, so hopefully he steps it up here,” Brown said.

Aidan O'Brien is always dangerous when shipping in from Europe and has a strong contender here in Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Winner of the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Juddmonte International S. in 2019, the bay started this season on a winning note in the G3 Ormonde S. May 6 and was third next out in the G1 Coronation Cup June 4. Failing to fire when sixth in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot 15 days later, he was a narrow winner of the G3 Meld S. last out July 15.

Gufo (Declaratioon of War) seeks his second top-level score here. Winner of the GI Belmont Derby last season, the chestnut came up a nose short in the GI Man o'War S. at Belmont May 8 and rallied to be third in the Manhattan. He captured the Grand Couturier S. going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont last out July 5.

Also worth a look at a price in this event is defending champion Channel Maker (English Channel), who romped by 5 3/4 lengths in this event last term and followed suit with a win in the GI Turf Classic Invitational S. Runner-up in the Neom Turf Cup S. in Saudi Arabia in February, the chestnut could only manage eighth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 27 and was seventh in the Bowling Green last out.

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Champ Tops ‘Quality’ Travers Field

Eclipse winner Essential Quality (Tapit) headlines a strong field of seven in Saratoga's prestigious GI Runhappy Travers S. Saturday evening. Should he succeed he would be the second colt in as many as years to complete the GI Belmont S./Travers double and the first juvenile champion to take the Midsummer Derby since Street Sense won the 2007 renewal.

Opening his sophomore account with wins in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 27 and GII Toyota Bluegrass S. Apr. 3, the Godolphin homebred was fourth as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby May 1. Skipping the GI Preakness S., the gray captured the June 5 Belmont and defeated Keepmeinmind (Laoban) by a half-length in the Spa's GII Jim Dandy S. July 31 with GIII Ohio Derby victor Masqueparade (Upstart) in third.

“I feel like he's as good as he's ever been,” trainer Brad Cox said. “If we run our race, we'll be tough. There's six other good colts in there and we still have to play our game. If we do, I think we'll be a big factor.”

The ultra-consistent Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) looks to rebound after an unlucky incident in Monmouth's GI Haskell Invitational S. last out July 17. The bay clipped heels and almost went down, losing rider Paco Lopez in the process, when Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) came over on him in the stretch. Hot Rod Charlie crossed the line first, but was disqualified for that incident and Mandaloun (Into Mischief) was promoted to first. Kicking off 2021 with a win in the GIII Lecomte S., Midnight Bourbon was third to Mandaloun in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 13 and was second to Hot Rod Charlie in the GII Louisiana Derby next out Mar. 20. Rallying for sixth in the Run for the Roses, the $525,000 KEESEP buy was second in the Preakness prior to his Haskell incident.

“He's a big horse and time should benefit him a bunch as he gets bigger and stronger and more mature,” said David Fiske, bloodstock advisor to Winchell Thoroughbreds. “He'll have to break well but I should expect to see him on or near the lead.”

Missing by a head in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 3, Dynamic One (Union Rags) could only manage 18th on the First Saturday in May. The $725,000 KEESEP purchase seems to be coming around at just the right time, rallying to a decisive score over the re-opposing Miles D (Curlin) in the restricted Curlin S. going nine panels at this oval July 30. The chestnut represents new Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who saddled his last Travers winner 10 years ago in Stay Thirsty.

Rounding out the field is blue-blooded King Fury (Curlin), who started his sophomore season on a winning note in a sloppy renewal of Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 10. A close second in the Ohio Derby, the $925,000 FTSAUG acquisition was forced to miss the Jim Dandy due to his barn's quarantine. Left with limited options, trainer Ken McPeek ran his pupil on grass in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and he showed the turf was not for him, finishing 10th in that Aug. 7 event.

“He came out of it fine. He just got hung wide on the second turn,” McPeek said. “I really feel like he needed a run. It was going to be a couple of months between races otherwise. Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to run in the Jim Dandy, but he will be prepared for this.”

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