By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take 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 Chukyo, Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:
Saturday, March 21, 2026
11th-CKO, Falcon S.-G3, ¥77,300,000 ($488k), 3yo, 1400mT
PRINCESS MOKO (f, 3, Charlatan–Tiger Ride, by Candy Ride {Arg}) validated 7-10 favoritism in graduating first time out on the dirt at Kyoto last November and has since finished second in a pair of starts on the grass, including a runner-up effort after setting the early fractions in the Listed Kobai Stakes Jan. 17 (video, #1). A $170,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $300,000 OBS April breezer, the bay is one of three winners from three to race out of a half-sister to MSW & GSP Ol Donyo (Curlin). O-Mishima B.; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara
Sunday, March 22, 2026
2nd-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
OUI CHEF (c, 3, Justify–Every Single Day, by Strong Mandate), a $110,000 purchase out of the 2024 Fasig-Tipton October Sale, breezed his furlong in :10 1/5 at last year's OBS April Sale and changed hands for $250,000. Every Single Day, a half-sister to MGSP Shooters Shoot (Competitive Edge), was purchased by Brandywine Farm for $90,000 in foal to Hit It a Bomb at the Fasig-Tipton February Sale in 2021. The Grade III-winning third dam Letgomyecho (Menifee) produced nine winners, including champion and four-time GISW 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Echo Zulu (Gun Runner); her GISW half-brother Echo Town (Speightstown), a fellow 'Rising Star'; and GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft). O-Kazuhiro Masuda; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY); T-Shogo Yasuda
3rd-NKY, ¥15,620,000 ($99k), Allowance, 3yo, 1200m
TAKASUTAKASUTAKASU (c, 3, Mor Spirit–Mopsicle, by Liam's Map) carried Ryusei Sakai to a narrow victory when favored on Hanshin debut last Sept. 20 (video, #4) and he most recently returned to action with a runner-up effort over 1400 meters at Toyko on Feb. 21, his actual third birthday. The bay is the lone listed produce for his dam, a $10,000 acquisition out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Digital December Sale, and was himself offered three times at public auction. Sold as a yearling for $3,000 at Keeneland January and for $62,000 at OBS October, he was knocked down to Narvick International for $450,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale. O-Katsuya Takasu; B-Twin Oaks Bloodstock (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara
6th-HSN, ¥15,200,000 ($99k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
AMERICAN CALL (JPN) (c, 3, American Pharoah–Evening Call, by Tapit) is another to have opened his account at first asking, overcoming a slow break to score in the Sunday Racing colors over course and distance back on Dec. 27 (video, #5). A half-sister to GI La Brea Stakes heroine Constellation (Bellamy Road), the unraced Evening Call was hammered down to Katsumi Yoshida for $385,000 in foal to Catholic Boy at Keeneland November in 2020. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Racing; T-Koshiro Take
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