Notable US-Breds In Japan: Nov. 13 & 14, 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 weekend running at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses. There is one Group 1 on each of the remaining seven weekends in 2021, kicking off with Japan's version of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup for fillies and mares, a race that would have attracted Loves Only You (Jpn), but for her landmark victory at the Breeders' Cup:

Saturday, November 13, 2021
9th-TOK, ¥19,110,000 ($168k), Allowance, 2yo, 1400m
CONCH PEARL (f, 2, American Pharoah–A Z Warrior, by Bernardini), second and third in turf maidens to begin her career, set a track-record time for the class when graduating by eight lengths in a two-turn maiden at Kokura Sept. 4 (see below, SC 7) and exits a narrowly beaten third over this trip at Hanshin Oct. 24. Her 'TDN Rising Star' dam, who sold for $550,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at Keeneland November Wednesday, is also responsible for SW Key To My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and SP Cole Porter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). A Z Warrior is a half-sister to fellow 'Rising Stars' Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile), J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday) and E Z Warrior (Exploit). Conch Pearl cost North Hills $340K at KEESEP last fall. B-Triemore Stud (KY)

 

 

Sunday, November 14, 2021
1st-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600m
POISON ARROW (c, 2, Arrogate–Crosswinds, by Storm Cat) was well-beaten when debuting on the dirt in July, but perked up a bit in a pair of tries on the turf, including a sound fourth at Sapporo Aug. 21. The $750K KEESEP grad is possessed of an each-way pedigree, as his half-sister Weep No More (Mineshaft) upset the 2016 GI Central Bank Ashland S., while half-brother Current (Curlin) took the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. in 2018. Poison Arrow's second dam is GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. heroine Flute (Seattle Slew), who produced GSW & MGISP turf distaffer Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). B-Hinkle Farms (KY)

1st-HSN, ¥9,860,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
SHIRAKINU (f, 2, Frosted–Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations), a $335K graduate of last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, fought on bravely from a high gate in her debut, but gave way late to finish second, beaten 3/4 of a length going this distance at Tokyo Oct. 30 (see below, SC 15). The Godolphin colorbearer is a half-sister to dual-surface GISW World of Trouble (Kantharos) and SW Money Or Love (J Be K) and her dam is a half-sister to the multiple graded-stakes winner Bucchero (Kantharos).B-Darsan Inc & Godolphin (FL)

 

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Nov. 7. 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 Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses, featuring the much-anticipated debut of one of this year's breeze-up sales toppers:

Sunday, November 7, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400mT
WALKER TESORO (f, 2, Speightstown–January Jones {Brz}, by Shirocco {Ger}) is the second foal from her Brazilian Group 1-winning dam, who was acquired privately by these breeders and mated to a sire with which they have experienced much success. Walker Tesoro returns to the course and distance of her Oct. 17 career debut, a solid runner-up effort from a high draw that should have her sitting on a win (see below, SC 16). Speightstown, the sire of 33 winners from 41 to race in Japan, has accounted for the owner's Rieno Tesoro, a stakes winner on dirt and Group 1-placed going a mile on turf against males. B-Mr & Mrs Kenji Ryotokuji (KY)

 

4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($118k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
CLOS DE MESNIL (f, 2, Practical Joke–Valiant Emilia {Per}, by Pegasus Wind) was bought back for $65K as a Keeneland November weanling in 2019, but improved into a $120K KEESEP yearling and attracted a sales-topping bid of $750K from trainer Hideyuki Mori at this year's OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in the bullet time of :9 4/5. The Mar. 18 foal was the most expensive of the eight juveniles Mori signed for at OBSMAR. Each of the remaining seven horses has already started, led by Dugat (Practical Joke), a $190K purchase who broke his maiden for this filly's owner Susumu Fujita by four lengths at Hanshin Oct. 16. Clos de Mesnil's third dam produced Peruvian GSW/G1SP Thundering Emilia (Thunder Gulch), whose son Helium (Ironicus) upset this year's GII Tampa Bay Derby, and she is also the dam of Peruvian G1SW Emilia's Moon (Malibu Moon). B-Teneri Farm (KY)

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Efforia Earns Landmark Win in Tenno Sho Autumn

In what would become the battle of the favorites, Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) proved best on the day, winning Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo. With the victory in the 2000-meter test, the colt became the first 3-year-old to win the race since Symboli Kris S won the event in 2002. Sent off as the third betting choice, Efforia settled in a comfortable sixth early as longshot Kaiser Minoru (Jpn) led the way while second choice Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and an overly-eager Tosu Surya (Jpn) (Lohengrin) were in close pursuit. Still coasting in behind horses as Gran Alegria collared the stubborn Kaiser Minoru and gradually inched ahead in early stretch, the third choice closed with purpose down the center of the course, and despite favored Contrail (Jpn)'s (Deep Impact {Jpn}) best effort to the extreme outside late, it was the sophomore who held a length advantage over 2020 Triple Crown hero Contrail with champion last season's champion sprinter/miler Gran Alegria a neck back in third.

“We were able to race in an ideal position and I didn't insist on the inner course as I knew that he can handle it even if we had to turn a little wider. While the COVID-19 crisis is still lingering, the number of spectators is gradually increasing and I am grateful that we were able to win the race in front of many fans,” commented Takeshi Yokoyama.

Winner of this season's G3 Kyodo News Hai over 1,800 meters in February, the bay returned to annex his fourth consecutive score in the 2,000-meter G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) in April. In his most recent start, he faced loss for the first time, finishing second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

“I cried with joy for the first time in my life, as I was very disappointed following the result of the Derby [last time], admitted Yokoyama. “He's a talented and smart horse, so I decided to believe in his ability and ride him without thinking too much.”

Out of the Heart's Cry (Jpn) mare Katies Heart (Jpn), the colt is trained by Yuichi Shikato, who was capturing his third JRA Group 1 title of the season. With the victory in Sunday's Tenno Sho (Autumn), Takeshi Yokoyama became the third generation horseman to win the race, his grandfather and former jockey Tomio, who won the title in 1969 and his father and active jockey Norihiro, who accomplished the feat in 2009.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TENNO SHO AUTUMN-G1, ¥290,800,000, Tokyo, 10-31, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.90, fm.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 123, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yuichi Shikato; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama; ¥153,360,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-1-0. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
2–Contrail (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Deep Impact(Jpn)–Rhodochrosite, by
Unbridled's Song. O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills; ¥60,960,000.
3–Gran Alegria (Jpn), 123, m, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Tapitsfly,
by Tapit. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,480,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.40, 1.50, 1.80.
Also Ran: Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Last Draft (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), World Premiere (Jpn), Curren Bouquetd'or (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Kaiser Minoru (Jpn), Tosen Surya (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

 

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sunday, Oct. 31, 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. As promised, a second installment this weekend featuring the horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses. Click for a preview of Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho, featuring the produce of American-sourced mares Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), Tapitsfly (Tapit) and Ginger Punch (Awesome Again), among others:

Sunday, October 31, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
WORLD CONNECTOR (c, 2, Connect–Wild Hoots, by Unbridled's Song) was made the 8-5 favorite for a 1600-meter newcomers' event over the local dirt track on debut Oct. 9, but sat a three-wide trip from a high draw and settled for a clear second (see below, SC 16). The half-brother to SW & GISP Savings Account (Medaglia d'Oro), whose dam is a full-sister to GISW Buddha, switches to the turf for this second go and has the services of Christophe Lemaire. The most expensive of 29 of his first-crop sire (by Curlin)'s weanlings to sell in 2019 when hammering for $250K at Keeneland November, World Connector was bought back for $285K at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last summer, but fetched $410K at this year's FTFMAR sale. B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY)

 

 

3rd-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
COSMIC MIND (c, 3, Into Mischief–Mystical Star, by Ghostzapper) turned in a remarkable performance on Nakayama debut Jan. 17, overcoming a world of trouble to score narrowly. Though off the board in three subsequent starts, he wasn't beaten far and makes his first start since April in this spot. A $280K KEESEP acquisition, the late April foal is out of a versatile dam who was a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed on the grass and runner-up in an all-weather renewal of the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. in 2012. B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY)

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