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 and Niigata Racecourses:
Saturday, August 16, 2025
2nd-CKO, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
YUTO THE INNOCENT (c, 2, Yaupon–Keira, by Unusual Heat), a $42,000 Keeneland September yearling, fetched $110,000 at this year's OBS March sale after breezing a furlong in a solid :10 1/5. The Apr. 4 foal looks to become the sixth winner from six runners for his unraced dam, a full-sister to GSW Majestic Heat; MSW & GISP Mensa Heat; MSP Real Heat; and Phi Beta Heat, the dam of SW & GSP Rye (English Channel). O-Ayana Suzuki; B-River Oak Farm & M Auerbach LLC (KY); T-Ken Kozaki
5th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
MITILINI (JPN) (f, 2, Tapit–Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute) is the first Japanese-foaled produce and second overall for her Eclipse Award-winning dam, owner of five Grade I victories and the promoted winner of the then-ungraded Saudi Cup in 2020. With a bankroll of nearly $14 million, Midnight Bisou first hammered for $5 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2020 and topped the 2022 Keeneland November Sale with this filly in utero on Katsumi Yoshida's bid of $5.5 million. Just last month, the mare's colt by Japanese Horse of the Year Equinox (Jpn) fetched ¥580 million ($3,918,919) to top the JRHA Select Foal Sale on the island of Hokkaido. Mitilini was trading as the 6-1 fourth choice as of this writing. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Racing; T-Tomokazu Takano
— Team Iwata (@JayRAye02) August 14, 2025
Sunday, August 17, 2025
2nd-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
KEEN SENSE (c, 2, Munnings–Canny, by Big Brown), a $200,000 Keeneland September graduate, is the third foal to the races for his stakes-placed dam, a full-sister to Grade III winner Send It In and a half to MSP Powder River (Mineshaft). Stonehaven Steadings consigns the colt's Justify half-brother (hip 1456) to KEESEP next month. A May 2 foal, the chestnut carries the Silk Racing colors and will be ridden by Ryusei Sakai. O-Silk Racing Co Ltd; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Mikio Matsunaga
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