In this ongoing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses, including the first Japanese starter for a leading U.S. freshman sire:
Saturday, August 19, 2017
5th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
JASPER PRINCE (c, 2, Violence&log=">Violence–Ambitious Journey, by Bernardini) becomes the first Japanese runner for his freshman sire (by Medaglia d'Oro), already represented by 10 winners. A $60K KEESEP yearling, the grandson of Sovereign Award-winning turf female Ambitious Cat (Storm Cat), breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 and was knocked down for $100K at this year's OBSMAR sale. The further female family includes champion Hong Kong miler Electronic Unicorn (Housebuster) and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Blushing K. D. (Blushing Groom). B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings (KY)
MOZU SUPERFLARE (f, 2, Speightstown–Christies Treasure, by Belong to Me), a half-sister to GSW Sacristy (Pulpit), is a $125K graduate of last year's KEESEP sale and is the 3-2 ante-post favorite for this. The chestnut, whose yearling Tiznow half-sister fetched $500K at FTSAUG last week, is from the family of GISWs Purge (Pulpit) and Jersey Girl (Belong to Me) as well as SW & GSP Namaste's Wish (Pulpit). B-Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY)
12th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($130k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
MEDAGLIA FLAME (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Fanfire, by Elusive Quality) looked to have a massive future when streaking home to graduate on debut by four lengths at short odds last October (video, gate 2), but has failed to build on the effort in three subsequent appearances. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed, the New York-bred cost $120K at KEESEP in 2015 and is out of a half-sister to MSW Strong Souther (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and MGSW Straight Story (Giant's Causeway). His MSW & GSP second dam Eventail (Lear Fan) is a half-sister to MGISW Take Charge Lady (Dehere), dam champion and top yearling sire Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) and GISW Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy). B-Gallagher's Stud (NY)
Sunday, August 20, 2017
9th-SAP, ¥30,400,000 ($278k), Allowance, 2yo, 1500mT
DERMA KISEKI (f, 2, Scat Daddy–Tashawak {Ire}, by Night Shift) kicked her career off on a winning note, taking a 1200m maiden in a blanket finish at Hakodate June 25 (video, gate 7), followed by a close fourth-place finish in the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. July 23 (video, gate 3). Derma Kiseki is a daughter of Sheikh Hamdan's 2002 G2 Falmouth S. victrix Tashawak, was a half-sister to 1999 G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Fairy Queen (Ire) (Fairy King) and to SW & G1SP Acropolis (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The March foal was hammered down to Shadai Farm for $225K at last year's Keeneland September sale from the Paramount Sales draft. B-Freddie Bloodstock (KY)
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