Katsumi Yoshida

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 Hakodate Racecourses: Saturday, June 20, 2026 5th-Hanshin, ¥14,880,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT LUZ SOLAR (JPN) (c, 2, Karakontie {Jpn}--Light of My Eyes {Ire}, by Frankel {GB}) is set to become just the second Japanese runner for his Gainesway-based...

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 Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, April 4, 2026 1st-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, f, 1800m PETRICHOR (JPN) (f, 3, Justify--Nicest {Ire}, by American Pharoah) just failed to overcome gate 14 of 16 on Kyoto debut going this trip on Jan. 11, finishing...

With a victory in Saturday's $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup--a fait accompli in the eyes of many--reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) would leap-frog Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) as the world's richest racehorse with over $36 million in career earnings, accomplished in the space of just 15 races. Heady stuff. Unfathomable stuff, really. And to think that the 5-year-old is out of a mare that fetched just $8,000 as a yearling, well, you just...

STAR ACTRESS (f, 3, Justify--Star Act {SP, $147,605}, by Street Cry {Ire}) was unveiled Feb. 8 at this venue trying a seven-furlong maiden race on the main track, and despite a wide trip, closed ferociously late to claim second by a half-length. Back here as the 3-5 favorite with added real estate to work with, Star Actress went one better while stalking the pace from much closer. Improving her position down the backstretch  to come even with the pacesetter and another challenger by the half-mile marker, she was vying for...

Grade I Del Mar Oaks winner Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) lit up the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale late, selling to Japan's Katsumi Yoshida for $1.5 million. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the 5-year-old was undefeated in her first four starts including the GII San Clemente Stakes before taking down the Del Mar Oaks in August of 2024. She last sold via the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform for $330,000 shortly before earning her Grade I win. Yoshida also picked up GSW 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Maysam (Game Winner) earlier in the...

Sunday Racing's Mitilini (Jpn) (f, 3, Tapit--Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute) came with a sustained run from from far back to graduate in her first try going two turns on the dirt in Saturday's opening race over 1700 meters at Kokura Racecourse. Once second from two tries going 1400 meters on turf to begin her career, the Feb. 24 foal never landed a blow when trying the dirt for the first time going that same distance Nov. 16. Despite being ridden for a bit of early speed from a double-digit...

International superstar Forever Young has been named the Japanese Horse of the Year after the selection committee for the 2025 Japan Racing Association (JRA) Awards met on Tuesday. The son of Real Steel is the first dirt horse to be honoured with the Horse of the Year award. Racing in the silks of Susumu Fujita, he was also honoured as the Japanese Best Older Male and Japanese Best Dirt Horse. During 2025, Forever Young prevailed in an epic showdown with Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in 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 Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, December 27, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m AMERICAN CALL (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah--Evening Call, by Tapit) is the second foal to the races for his dam, a $385,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at the...

Star Anise emulated illustrious names such as Vodka (2006), Buena Vista (2010) and Liberty Island (2022) with a stylish success in Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, matching the race-record time of 1:32.60 for the end-of-season championship. Eighteen of Japan's leading two-year-old fillies went to post for the 1,600-metre contest, with His Masterpiece (Screen Hero) taking them along in the early stages ahead of the longshots From Raven (Tower of London) and Rose Charis (California Chrome). Race favourite Alankar (Epiphaneia), on the other hand, was anchored at the rear of the...

TOKYO, JAPAN -- In a special ceremony at Tokyo racecourse prior to the 45th running of the Japan Cup, history was made when brothers Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida became the first Japanese members of the Jockey Club. The major owner-breeders and owners respectively of Shadai Farm and Northern Farm, Teruya, 78, and Katsumi, 77, were presented with lapel badges by senior steward Baroness Dido Harding to mark their honorary membership. Baroness Harding was joined in Tokyo by Jockey Club CEO Jim Mullen, assistant racing and international director Matthew Woolston, and...

Nope. Just can't figure it out. Why on earth, at the end of another grueling sales cycle, would so many Americans scrape together the last of their resources, in energy and funds, and get on a plane for one final auction in France? Setting aside, that is, the langoustines and truffles; the calvados and cider; the designer boutiques; the Christmas lights that transform an elegant summer resort into a filmset apt for a French remake of It's A Wonderful Life; the medieval villages huddled, in the early dusk of midwinter,...

4th-Kyoto, ¥14,250,000 ($93,167), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m, 1:51.9, my. DANON BOURBON (c, 2, Maxfield--Wild Ridge, by Tapit), a $450,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Katsumi Yoshida just over a year ago, launched his career in smashing fashion, becoming the second wide-margin debut winner in Japan for his freshman sire (by Street Sense), and his 16th scorer overall. Sent off as the 22-5 third choice, the early April foal was kicked straight into the lead by Kohei Matsuyama and relaxed nicely on the engine. Still going nicely for the run around the second...