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 as a number of well-related juveniles make their career debuts:
Saturday, August 12, 2017
5th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1000m
JASPER EIGHT (c, 2, Shackleford–Annie's Apple, by Shawklit Won) is kin to seven winners from nine to race for her restricted stakes-winning dam, including SWs Lady Fifty Two (Kodiak Kowboy) and Forestry Steel (Forestry) and to GSP K.D.'s Shady Lady (Maria's Mon), the dam of GISW Lady of Fifty (After Market). Yutaka Take has the call for top trainer Hideyuki Mori. Jasper Eight, a $15K KEENOV weanling and $25K OBSAUG yearling, matured into a $220K OBSMAR juvenile. B-Kirt & Sarah Cahill & Shackleford Syndicate (KY).
Sunday, August 13, 2017
5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
MATSUKAZE c, 2, (War Front&log=">War Front–Night Lagoon {Ger}, by Lagunas {Ger}) is set to become the third runner for his sire in Japan and boasts an enormous pedigree. A $550K KEESEP yearling, the dark bay is a half-brother to four-time Group 1 winner and champion Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), who has been represented by three winners from his first crop of runners in Japan. Then 13, Night Lagoon was purchased with this colt in utero for $1.7 million at the 2014 FTKNOV sale. B-Barronstown Stud (KY)
6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
RADIO TAISO (c, 2, Shanghai Bobby–Saphiria, by Touch Gold), an $80K KEENOV weanling turned $120K KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother to GSW Brian's Jewel (Rockport Harbor) and is out of an unplaced close relative to Eclipse Award winner and track-record setter Left Bank (French Deputy), a Grade I winner at seven, eight and nine furlongs. B-Royal Oak Farm (KY)
7th-SAP, ¥14,250,000 ($130k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m
RAG PRINCESS (f, 3, Union Rags&log=">Union Rags–Exogenetic, by Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to GSW & GISP Super Ninety Nine (Pulpit) and MSW Elusive Horizon (Elusive Quality), is out of an unraced half-sister to GISW Exogenous (Unbridled). When last seen, Rag Princess charged home from the tail of the field to graduate over 1400m at Toyko Apr. 22 (video, gate 9). At $430K, Rag Princess was the second most-expensive of 59 of her sire's first-crop yearlings to sell in 2015. B-Northwest Farms LLC (KY).
7th-KOK, ¥14,250,000 ($130k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000m
HONEY JADE (f, 3, Harlan's Holiday-Hard Hat, by Hard Spun) hit the board once from three tries on the turf to begin her career, but found new life on the dirt when validating 13-10 favoritism going 1400m at Hanshin June 3 (video, post 15). A $130K FTKJUL yearlings, Honey Jade fetched $300K as an FTFMAR breezer and is out of an unplaced half-sister to GISW Albert the Great (Go For Gin). B-John P Hicks, William D Hart, Dr Jerry Bilinski & John Murdza (NY)
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