Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: December 28, 2019

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 Hanshin Racecourse, with the latest produce of Wilshewed getting her career underway:

Saturday, December 28, 2019
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000, Newcomers ($123k), 2yo, 1400m
PRIMO D'ARC (f, 2, Bernardini–Wilshewed, by Carson City) is the latest produce from his dam, who retired a maiden after fetching $125K as a Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-year-old from the late Bill Currin in 2001, but has become a broodmare of considerable commercial appeal. Wilshewed was retained by Currin on a bid of $40K carrying her first foal by Stormy Atlantic at the 2003 Keeneland November Sale and Stormello got the mare off to a flying start when winning the 2006 GI Hollywood Futurity. Stormello's brother My Best Brother took the GII Del Mar Derby in 2012, while Gala Award (Bernardini)–a $1.55 million KEESEP yearling– followed suit in the 2014 GIII Palm Beach S. Cherry Lodge (Bernardini), a $450K KEESEP grad, was a 'TDN Rising Star' and was runner-up in the 2016 GI Spinaway S. before becoming a black-type winner in her own right, while another full-sibling to Stormello, 'Rising Star' Atlantic Voyage, produced this year's GIII Mazarine S. winner Curlin's Voyage (Curlin). Primo d'Arc, who cost $400K at KEESEP and $500K at OBS April (:10 flat), has a soon-to-be 2-year-old Medaglia d'Oro half-sister that was bought back on a bid of $450K at KEESEP this year. B-Estate of William L Currin (KY)

SMART COLZA (f, 2, Speightstown–Pianist, by More Than Ready) is the second foal to the races from his dam, a $100K KEESEP yearling who went on to become a dual graded winner on the turf before selling to Stonestreet for $425K at Fasig-Tipton November in 2014. Smart Colza was a $60K purchase out of last year's KEESEP sale and is related to a yearling filly of this year by Ghostzapper who was knocked down for $245K at FTKOCT this fall. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)