Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: July 1 & 2

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 Hakodate and Chukyo:

Saturday, July 1, 2017
10th-HAK, ¥19,950,000 (US$178k), Alw, 3yo/up, 1800mT
WHITE DRAGON (c, 3, Cowboy Cal–Spot of Beauty, by Skip Away) returns on two weeks' rest, having charged home to win his maiden in his sixth career trip to the post in a 1700m test over the local dirt course (video). White Dragon has also shown decent form on the turf, with board placings in two of his three tries over the surface. The colt is yet another registered white bred by Patchen Wilkes Farm, who became the first farm to ever register a white with The Jockey Club in 1963. B-Patchen Wilkes Farm LLC (KY)

Sunday, July 2, 2017
6th-CYO, ¥13,4000,000 (US$120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
FORZA F (c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Painted Woman, by Forest Wildcat) is the first foal for his dam, third to Reneesgotzip (City Zip) in the 2012 GII Santa Ynez S. and hammered down to Jim Wells for $120K at KEENOV in 2013. Consigned by Select Sales to last year's KEESEP sale, the March foal was purchased by leading Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori for $350K. Forza F's MSP third dam Come On Joy (Cormorant) was responsible for 2005 GIII Delaware Oaks winner R Lady Joy (Vicar). B-Jim R & Janie Wells (KY)

11th-CYO, CBC Sho-G3, ¥74,600,000 (US$661k), 3yo/up, 1200mT
A SHIN SPARTAN (h, 6, Zensational–Lady Tak, by Mutakddim) has made the most of his reasonably limited opportunities, winning six of his 14 starts, including a listed stakes at this trip at Nakayama last spring (video, gate 4). A close third to recent G1 Yasuda Kinen hero Satono Aladdin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's G2 Swan S. (1400m) (video, gate 13), the $210K KEESEP graduate was third in a soft-turf renewal of the G3 Keihan Hai in November and makes his first start here since last December. Lady Tak won the 2003 GI Test S. and 2004 GI Ballerina H. for co-breeder Heiligbrodt Racing Stable. B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings & Heiligbrodt Racing Stable et al (KY)