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. With the weekend's biggest race, the G1 Sprinters' S. taking place over at Nakayama, American-breds look to hold a strong hand in several races at Hanshin, including the defending champ in the G3 Sirius S.:
Saturday, September 30, 2017
11th-HSN, Sirius S.-G3, ¥68,820,000 ($611k), 3yo/up, 2000m
The lightly raced MASK ZORRO (h, 6, Roman Ruler-Saravati, by Giant's Causeway) has quietly won seven of his 15 career trips to the post, including a perfect three-race campaign in 2016 that was capped by a narrow success in this event (video, gate one). Sidelined off that effort, the $170K KEENOV weanling resumed with a useful runner-up effort in the slop in the Listed BSN Sho at Niigata Aug. 26 (video, gate 13). The dark bay is out of an unplaced half-sister to MGISW You (You and I). B-Andre Lynch, Dermot Ryan, David O'Loughlin & Petaluma Bloodstock (KY)
12th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1400mT
Kazumi Yoshida's ZUAR (c, 3, The Factor&log=">The Factor–Salvar, by Eddington) lured Ryan Moore for his career debut and kept pulling out more in a front-running success last December (video, gate five). The colt, out of a half-sister to MGSW Clearly Now (Horse Greeley) and 'TDN Rising Star' and GSW Bendable (Horse Greeley) was last seen checking in a decent fourth in his first try against winners in February. Purchased in utero for $120K at KEENOV in 2013, Zuar was a $115K KEENOV weanling, a $290K FTKOCT yearling and $200K OBS April breezer. B-Lane's End Bloodstock (KY)
Sunday, October 1, 2017
1st-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800m
EGRET ©, 2, Distorted Humor–Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence), a homebred half-brother to MGSW & MG1SP Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}), MSW Amour Briller (Smart Strike) and GSW and US Classic-placed Lani (Tapit), gave a good account of himself when third on his course-and-distance debut Sept. 18 (video, gate 7). His dam was a winner of the Tenno Sho. B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY)
8th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
Winner of her career debut this past January (video, gate 1), TEN MOHS (f, 3, Speightstown–Lemon Kiss, by Lemon Drop Kid) was a very good second over this track and trip in June (video, gate 9). The $230K KEESEP yearling acquisition has finished off the board in a pair of tries over 1400m, but this return to the metric six furlongs should see a return to her better form. Out of a stakes-winning full-sister to MGSW Kiss the Kid, Ten Mohs is a half-sister to Grade I-winning turfer Lochte (Medaglia d'Oro). Her third dam includes Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Black Tie Affair (Ire). B-Mark Gittins (KY)
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