Keeneland November

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...

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 Sunday running at Chukyo Racecourse: 2nd-CKO, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m AMERICAN DANCE (f, 3, Gun Runner--Miss Stormy D, by Tapizar), a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling, is the first foal to the races for her dam, a wide-margin stakes winner on the California...

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Labwah (Charlatan) will face some considerable obstacles when she enters the gate for Saturday's $1-million G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. Not only will she attempt to become just the second of her sex to beat the boys in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race (Khawlah, 2011), she will also have to see off an always-deep challenge from Japan, whose runners have taken out the last four runnings. While the filly's Lexington-area breeder Calvin Crain wasn't prepared to make any bold predictions,...

Shadwell Stable's Ezum (Essential Quality), a speed-and-fade ninth at longshot odds on seven-furlong debut at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 7, was pounded into even-money favoritism stretching out to a mile Saturday at Colonial Downs and treated his rivals to a 19 1/2-length beating. Soon in front for Flavien Prat, the $485,000 Keeneland November weanling angled down towards the inside and made the running one off the fence while doing it through comfortable fractions up front. Prat held his mount together into the final three furlongs and when he edged ever...

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, February 28, 2026 3rd-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m BLUE MCKINZIE (c, 3, McKinzie--Blueeyesintherein, by Magna Graduate), a $40,000 Keeneland November weanling, took some nibbles at the windows and was a respectable fourth on Tokyo debut Nov....

Danox Co. Ltd's Danon Figo (Jpn) (Into Mischief) was under serious consideration for Sunday's G1 February Stakes following a very strong third-place effort in the Feb. 1 G3 Negishi Stakes at Tokyo, but made the most of this path of lesser resistance to become the first Japanese stakes winner for his all-conquering stallion in Monday's Listed Kakitsubata Kinen at Nagoya. Sent off the even-money favorite with Yuga Kawada back at the controls, the bay colt settled in fifth position for the run into the first turn as fellow American-bred Jasper...

"Looking for the hidden gem." That, to Mike Slezak, is the point of crossover; the place where his breakout success dovetails with a personal passion that has now evolved into a way of life. "Which means trying to ask questions in a different way," he elaborates. "Not making assumptions, looking a little closer." To the many who first encountered Slezak in his American Idol debrief shows, the next stage of the analogy will make perfect sense. "It's scouting for a contestant like David Cook," he explains. "No-one thought he was...

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: Saturday, February 21, 2026 4th-HSN, ¥12,330,000 ($80k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m WE MOVE (c, 3, Curlin--Shamrock Rose, by First Dude) is the second foal to the races for his dam, named the Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter of...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, February 14, 2026 4th-TOK, ¥12,330,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m ASK DU CHAMP (JPN) (c, 3, Essential Quality--Red Lark {Ire}, by Epaulette {Aus}) is the first to race from his dam, who upset the 2020 GI...

EASY DECISION (c, 3, Charlatan--All Laced Up, by Bernardini) was unveiled as the 9-5 choice here. The chalk initially took on longshot pacesetter Lord King (King for a Day), but was reigned in to stalk up the backstretch. Taking aim at the leader and Complex Charlie (Complexity) around the far turn and into the lane, the 3-year-old was forced to tip to an outside lane. The bay became uncorked, struck the front with a furlong left and graduated by 6 1/4 lengths. Complex Charlie was the runner-up. A $120,000 buy...

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...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Sunday, February 1, 2026 4th-KYO, ¥12,330,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m REVIVI (f, 3, Good Magic--Seasoned Warrior, by Majestic Warrior), whose dam was Grade II-placed at two, is a half-sister to SP Souper Echo (Macho Uno) and...