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 a son of Speightstown, who has had remarkable success with his Japanese runners:
Saturday, August 26, 2017
5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
AMERICAN FACT (c, 2, Speightstown–Missamerica Bertie, by Quiet American) is out of a full-sister to MGSW & GISP Allamerican Bertie and a half to MGSW & GISP Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and cost $375K as a KEESEP yearling last fall. The further female family includes recent GI Arlington Million hero Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid) and MGSW & MGISP Sun King (Charismatic). Speightstown has been represented by 18 winners from 19 to race in Japan. The yearling half-brother by Scat Daddy is cataloged as hip 501 at this year's September sale. B-Nesco II Ltd (KY)
Sunday, August 27, 2017
3rd-NII, ¥9,550,000 ($87k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
CITY WALK (c, 3, Street Cry {Ire}–Dixie City, by Dixie Union) gets his career underway for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who acquired the February foal for $150K at KEESEP in 2015. Dixie City, winner of the 2010 GII Demoiselle S. for Ned Evans and Tony Dutrow, is a full-sister to SP Union City, the dam of MGSW & GISP Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}). Third dam Demi Souer (Storm Bird) was a half-sister to leading sire and broodmare sire Dehere and produced GSW Fast Decision (Gulch). B-Diamond A Racing Corp (KY)
8th-KOK, ¥14,250,000 ($130k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000m
The consistent COOL ZEPHYR (f, 4, Street Cry {Ire}–Desert Song, by Unbridled's Song) has been no worse than third in any of her last seven appearances dating back to March 2016, including a smooth win at Kyoto Feb. 4 (video, gate 6) ahead of a narrow defeat when last seen at Hanshin Apr. 2 (video, gate 4). The $200K KEESEP grad is a granddaughter of MSW & GSP Justenuffheart (Broad Brush), dam of champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), MGSW Lewis Michael (Rahy) and MGSW & GISP Justenuffhumor (Distorted Humor). Her deep third dam includes leading sire Kitten's Joy, MGISW Precious Kitten and her GSW & MGISP son Divining Rod (Tapit). B-Rabbah Bloodstock LLC (KY)
12th-SAP, ¥28,600,000 ($262k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800mT
LE GRAND FRISSON c, 4, Smart Strike–Leaning Tower, by Theatrical {Ire}), a $150K KEESEP purchase by Koji Maeda in 2014, has quietly earned nearly $600k with 10 top-three finishes from his 19 career trips to the post, including a close second at Hakodate July 1 (video, gate 2). The bay is kin to GISW Karelian (Bertrando) and this year's top sophomore turf runner Frostmourne (Speightstown). Canadian-based Eurico Rosa da Silva, in for the World All-Star Jockeys' Competition, has the ride. B-Green Lantern Stables LLC (KY)
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