By Alan Carasso
Saturday, February 11, 2017
1st-TOK, ¥9,550,000 (US$84k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
RAG PRINCESS (Union Rags–Exogenetic, by Unbridled's Song) cuts back slightly in trip for this, having finished a debut sixth of 16 over the metric mile at this venue Nov. 27. A $430K KEESEP grad, she was the second most expensive of her sire (by Dixie Union)'s 59 first-crop yearlings to sell in 2015. Rag Princess is kin to GSW & GISP Super Ninety Nine (Pulpit) and is out of an unraced Unbridled's Song close relative to the ill-fated dual GISW Exogenous (Unbridled). Liver Bird (The Factor) cost $460K as a BARMAR 2yo in 2016, the second-priciest juvenile from his sire's initial crop. He transitions to dirt off a debut seventh over the local turf Nov. 26.
6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 (US$121k), Alw, 1400mT
SALINERO (Uncle Mo–Aguilera, by Unbridled's Song), a $130K KEESEP grad turned $350K FTFMAR 2yo, made the most of her first trip to the races with a 1 1/2-length victory as the 7-5 favorite going 1200 meters over the Kyoto turf course Nov. 20. Christophe Lemaire has a return call on the Kazumi Yoshida runner, a half-sister to SW & GSP Bluegrass Singer (Bluegrass Cat), whose third dam is MGSW & MGISP Klassy Kim (Silent Screen).
Sunday, February 12, 2017
6th-KYO, ¥11,400,000 (US$101k), Newcomers, 1800mT
Shadai Farm went to $535K for Stone Farm-bred SOLEIL DE PARIS (Lemon Drop Kid–Chatham, by Maria's Mon) at the 2015 KEESEP sale, the best price among the 44 yearlings to sell for his sire that season. That hammer price had much to do with the chestnut's year-older half-brother and eventual champion Air Force Blue (War Front), who had won the G1 National S. by the time Soleil de Paris strode into the Keeneland sales pavilion. Under the May foal's third dam is champion Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her Eclipse Award-winning daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). The latter's half-brother Battle Plan (Empire Maker) is having some success as a sire in Japan.
9th-KYO, ¥19,000,000 (US$168k), Alw, 1600mT
ZUAR (The Factor–Salvar, by Eddington), a $200K OBSMAR graduate, was a 19-10 chance with Ryan Moore at the controls for his 1400m debut at Chukyo Dec. 4 and led every step of the way for a comfortable 3 1/2-length victory. Moore, in to ride Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Kyoto Kinen, gets a leg up again Sunday afternoon.
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