By Alan Carasso
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, April 25, 2026
7th-KYO, ¥15,620,000 ($98k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
WAZAOGI (c, 3, Gun Runner–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday) outran debut odds of 13-1 to be a sound third over this track and distance last November and returned from a four-month absence with a late flourish to graduate narrowly going this trip at Hanshin Mar. 8 (see below, #14). A $700,000 Keeneland September yearling, the bay is one of two to salute from his stakes-winning dam, whose son More Than Looks (More Than Ready) took out the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in 2024. Ladies' Privilege is a full-sister to Takeover Target, a three-time winner at the graded level on the turf. O-Sanshisuimei Co Ltd; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Tomoyasu Sakaguchi
Sunday, April 26, 2026
12th-TOK, ¥22,690,000 ($142k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1400m
SNAPPY DRESSER (c, 4, Union Rags–Caramel Snap, by Smart Strike) is two-for-two going the seven-furlong trip at headquarters, having graduated by 11 lengths on debut back in October 2024 before resuming from a 13-month stint on the sidelines to carry the visiting Rachel King to a seven-length romp on Feb. 22 (see below, #10). Damian Lane takes over at the controls this time around on the full-brother to MGSW Caramel Swirl, whose dam is a half-sister to the sadly departed MGISW Darley stallion Frosted (Tapit) and a half to GSW Indulgent (Bernardini). O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Masahiro Otake
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