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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:
Saturday, September 23, 2017
3rd-NKY, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
MATSUKAZE (c, 2, War Front&log=">War Front–Night Lagoon {Ger}, by Lagunas) should appreciate this return to maiden company, having finished ninth in Group 3 company last time out. With a repeat of his debut second at Sapporo (video, post 8), the $550K KEESEP yearling figures very tough to beat. A half-brother to MG1SW and freshman Japanese sire Novellist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the dark bay was purchased in utero by Barronstown Stud for $1.7m at FTKNOV in 2014. B-Barronstown Stud (KY)
8th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2000m
TAPIZO (c, 3, Tapizar–Refugio, by Bernardini), a $100K KEESEP acquisition, was off the board in two starts at two, but was second in his sophomore debut in July and graduated in convincing style when last seen at Kokura Aug. 6 (video, post 13). The gray colt is out of a winning daughter of SW Storm Minstrel (Storm Cat), the dam of MGSW Blofeld (Quality Road). A full-brother to the latter fetched $1-million last week at KEESEP. B-Mike G Rutherford (KY)
Sunday, September 24, 2017
6th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($119k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
OPERA GLOVES (f, 2, Speightstown–Funny Moon, by Malibu Moon) is the most recent produce for her dam, winner of the 2009 GI Coaching Club American Oaks and purchased by Len Riggio's My Meadowview Farm for $2.3 million in foal to Indian Charlie at FTKNOV in 2011. A $180K KEESEP graduate, Opera Gloves hails from the extended female family of GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge) and Group 1-winning juvenile Distant Music (Distant View). B-My Meadowview LLC (KY)
7th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600mT
The impeccably bred MOZU ASCOT (c, 3, Frankel (GB)&log=">Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) was beaten a total of 1 3/4 lengths while finishing fourth in his first two trips to the post this season–both at this venue–but got over the hump in his last with a two-length victory at Chukyo (video, gate 6). A $275K buyback at KEESEP in 2015, the chestnut is a son of the 2006 GII Cotillion BC H. winner India and is a half-brother to SW & 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro). India's SW half-sister Pilfer (Deputy Minister) is the dam of MGISW and Gainesway sire To Honor and Serve (Bernardini). B-Summer Wind Farm (KY) –Alan Carasso
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