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 Chukyo and Fukushima Racecourses, including a son of Frankel looking for a breakthrough performance:
Saturday, July 15, 2017
3rd-CKO, ¥9,550,000 (US$84k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
LEON MATERA (c, 3, Unbridled's Song–Graciously Soft, by Vindication), down the field over a rain-affected track in his career debut (1800m) in February, bounced back to finish a close second when tried over 1200m at Hanshin June 17 (video, gate 14). The $500K KEESEP acquisition is closely related to 'TDN Rising Star' Justin Squared (Zensational), while second dam Siberian Fur (Siberian Express) produced MGSW & MGISP Unbridled's Note to the cover of Unbridled's Song as well as MGISW Spoken Fur (Notebook). B-Newtown Anner Stud (KY)
11th-CKO, ¥34,620,000 (US$305k), Alw, 3yo/up, 2000mT
STRONG TITAN (c, 4, Regal Ransom–Titan Queen, by Tiznow), a half-brother to GSWs Fashion Alert (Old Fashioned) and Renee's Titan (Bernstein) went on a three-race tear last summer, culminating with a smart success going this trip at Kyoto Nov. 13 (video, gate 13). The bay colt will be looking to return to his best form, having finished a close fifth as the favorite in the G3 Kokura Daishoten Feb. 19. B-Silk Racing Co. Ltd. (KY)
Sunday, July 16, 2017
2nd-CKO, ¥9,550,000 (US$84k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT
MOZU ASCOT (c, 3, (Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) has gone favored in each of his two career appearances and has run well en route to fourth-place efforts over 2000m at Hanshin June 10 (video, gate 7) and going nine panels June 24 (video, gate 6). A $275K buyback out of the 2015 KEESEP sale, the chestnut is a son of this breeder's MGSW India, already the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro). Frankel is the sire of three winners from nine to race in Japan, including champion Soul Stirring (Jpn). B-Summer Wind Farm (KY)
12th-FUK, ¥14,250,000 (US$126k), Alw, 1700m
CHILLY SILVER (f, 3, Malibu Moon–Jacey's Reward, by Johannesburg), an impressive debut winner on the turf this past January (video, gate 12), was runner-up trying the dirt for the first time at Nakayama Apr. 16 (video, gate 11), but did not handle a Tokyo strip rated 'good' last time and finished well back. A fast track could see a dramatically different result this time around for the $85K FTKJUL yearling turned $240K BARMAR juvenile whose female family includes GISW Magical Fantasy (Diesis {GB}) and London Bridge (Arch), winner of the GII Breeders' Cup Marathon. B-Glencrest Farm LLC (KY)
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
