Japan

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. Just two tracks on the menu for the weekend, but American-bred and -sired juveniles are set to make their presence felt at Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, July 25, 2020 5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT REFRAME (f, 2, American Pharoah--Careless Jewel, by Tapit) is the latest to the races from...

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 and Fukushima Racecourses: Saturday, July 18, 2020 5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT KITTEN'S WALTZ (f, 2, Air Force Blue--Dance With Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) is set to be the first Japanese starter for her sire and is the...

Akiko Gothard, who trained K One King (Apalachee) to an eighth-place effort in the 1999 GI Kentucky Derby and a victory in the 2000 GI Oaklawn H., passed away July 6 in Lexington, the Blood-Horse reported. She was 89 years old. Born Akiko Ozeki, she was married to Don McVarish, an American soldier, in her native Japan, relocating to the United States in 1956. Gothard served as a liaison in helping Japanese buyers at Keeneland. She became a trainer in the 1990s, saddling 347 winners from 2,008 starters for earnings...

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 Hakodate and Hanshin Racecourses, including the first Japanese runner for the expatriated California Chrome: Saturday, July 11, 2020 5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT CAL FRAGRANCE (f, 2, California Chrome--Right There, by Eskendereya), a $180K purchase out of last year's...

Having already sewn up the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and a berth in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of September if connections so choose, Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) will stretch out to 2000 meters for the first time in his career as he tries to make it four wins from as many starts in Wednesday's $711,743 Japan Dirt Derby at Ohi Racecourse. The $475,000 OBS March graduate won his debut going nine furlongs in December, then cut back to Toyko's one-turn mile for...

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 a couple of horses of interest for this weekend running at Fukushima and Hakodate Racecourses: Sunday, July 5, 2020 3rd-HAK, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m ALPHA ZIP (f, 3, City Zip--Alpha Centauri, by Dynaformer) failed to land a blow in four tries from seven furlongs to a mile to...

In this continuing 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 Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses. Group 1 racing will recess in Japan, but not before this weekend's running of the Takarazuka Kinen, featuring Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), a daughter of 2011 GI Ashland S. winner Lilacs and Lace (Flower...

Making his first start since a seventh to Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, reigning champion Japanese dirt horse Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) got the jump on defending race winner and even-money favourite Omega Perfume (Jpn) (Swept Overboard) to take out a Group 1-quality renewal of the Teio Sho (2000m) Wednesday evening at Ohi Racecourse. Tracking the pacesetting Wide Pharaoh (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) from a three-wide perch in third, Chrysoberyl--last year's G1 Champions Cup hero--was asked for a bit of run entering the...

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 Hakodate and Hanshin Racecourses. The most important race of the weekend takes place Sunday at Toyko, which plays host to the G3 Unicorn S., one of two new races on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Four US-bred and...

American and English champion Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}-Well Head {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) passed away last week after a short illness at Tullyraine House Stud, Racing Post reported on Wednesday. The Ballymacoll Stud homebred was 15. "Three weeks ago he was bouncing and his usual self, but within a short space of time it became apparent he had suffered a very acute brain injury, " Hugh Suffern, principal of Tullyraine House Stud, told Racing Post. "He fought very hard for around three weeks, but eventually he succumbed in the middle...

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 Hakodate, Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, June 13, 2020 8th-TOK, ¥14,360,000 ($134k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2000mT LOUD AND CLEAR (c, 3, Giant's Causeway--Melody Maiden, by Saint Ballado) improved for a solid debut fourth over this distance Apr. 4 to graduate last...

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 and Tokyo Racecourses, the latter of which hosts the best race on the planet this weekend, Sunday's G1 Yasuda Kinen, featuring 2018 Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) as well as US-bred G1SW Mr Melody...