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 Kyoto and Nakayama Racecourses, with a pair of nicely bred and expensive sons of Scat Daddy front and center in a Saturday newcomers' race:
Saturday, January 6, 2018
6th-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($101k), Newcomers, 3yo, 2000mT
LA LA PAY FORWARD (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Blushing Issue, by Blushing John), a full-brother to two-time turf Grade I winner Lady of Shamrock, was a $70K KEENOV weanling who matured into a $310K KEESEP yearling. Also kin to GSW Smooth Jazz (Dixieland Band) and MSW She's Sensational (Point Given), the March foal is out of a once-raced half-sister to Royal Chariot (Strawberry Road {Aus}), winner of the GI Hollywood Turf Cup. B-Paget Bloodstock (KY)
DADDY'S TESORO (g, 3, Scat Daddy–Mary's Angel, by Hat Trick {Jpn}) is the first foal out of a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown (Boundary) and last year's GIII Grey S. hero Archaggelos (Temple City) and fetched $400K at KEESEP in 2016. Another half-brother Alfonso de Sousa (Henrythenavigator) was GSP at two. B-Teresa Viola Stable (KY)
Monday, January 8, 2018
11th-KYO, Shinzan Kinen-G3, ¥72m ($639k), 3yo, 1600mT
AIR ALMAS (c, 3, Majestic Warrior–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) went favored in each of his two juvenile appearances, finishing second on his Nov. 5 debut at 7-5 before validating a quote of even money to graduate by an impressive four lengths when trying this distance for the first time at Hanshin Dec. 2 (video, gate five). The May foal is the first produce for his dam, a half-sister to SW Yuzuru (Medaglia d'Oro), while the further female family includes Glorious Song, Saint Ballado, Devil's Bag and Japanese MGSW & MG1SP Danon Ballade (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Sekie & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY)
12th-NKY, ¥14,250,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600mT
CHILLY SILVER (f, 4, Malibu Moon–Jacey's Reward, by Johannesburg) made a positive impression in graduating in her career debut on turf just shy over a year ago (video), but hasn't returned to the winner's circle since. A few of those efforts may be excusable, as she was well down the field in a pair of subsequent starts on the dirt and most recently caught a heavy Tokyo strip when eighth Oct. 22. She'll be looking for a sounder surface here. An $80K RNA as a KEENOV weanling, she made $85K as an FTKJUL yearling the following summer. Bought back for $245K as an FTFMAR juvenile, she was hammered down for $240K at BARMAR in 2016. B-Glencrest Farm LLC (KY)
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