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 Tokyo and Chukyo Racecourses. The latter plays host to Sunday's G3 Silk Road S., which has drawn a typically full field of 18 turf sprinters, led by American-bred Group 1 winner Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and the hard-knocking Shivaji (First Samurai):
Saturday, January 30, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
FINE HAPPY (f, 3, Runhappy–Unbridled Empire, by Empire Maker) is a half-sister to Grade I-winning turf marathoner Arklow (Arch) and to MGSW grasser Maraud (Blame) and cost owner Masatake Iida $340K at Keeneland September in 2019. His unplaced dam is a half-sister to Fourty Niners Son (Distorted Humor), a Grade I winner on turf in this country who later stood in Japan; and to GISW Cindy's Hero (Sea Hero), the dam of MGSW & GISP Delegation (Speightstown). B-John R & Frank Penn (KY)
4th-CKO, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
CAREERISM (c, 3, Upstart–Out of Goodbyes, by Out of Place) is the latest foal from his stakes-winning Massachusetts-bred dam, a half-sister to romping fellow Mass-bred black-type winner No More Goodbyes (More Than Ready). An $85K Fasig-Tipton November weanling purchase, this February foal was knocked down for $120K at FTKJUL in 2019 and fetched $200K at last year's OBS March Sale after breezing a quarter-mile in a strong :21 2/5. B-Golden Pedigree LLC (KY)
ERIE TESORO (f, 3, California Chrome–Celtic Chant, by Songandaprayer) cost $130K as a KEENOV weanling in 2018 before improving into a $235K KEESEP yearling the following year. Her stakes-winning dam has already been responsible for the Grade III-placed Irish Mischief (Into Mischief), while the deeper female family includes MGISW Vicar (Wild Again) and his stakes-winning half-sister Sheepscot (Easy Goer), the dam of 2007 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Astronomer Royal (Danzig) and U.S. GSW Navesink River (Unbridled). Erie Tesoro was entered for, but ultimately scratched out of a similar spot Jan. 17. B-Clarkland Farm LLC (KY)
4th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($133k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
ANNUNCIATION (c, 3, Union Rags–Acquant, by Giant's Causeway) makes his 3-year-old debut in this spot, having hosed up by 3 1/2 very impressive lengths at short odds over course and distance Oct. 31 (see below, gate 3). A $230K KEESEP yearling that races in the colors of Silk Racing Co. Ltd., the chestnut is out of a winning daughter of MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer), the dam of GISW Force the Pass (Speightstown). The chestnut with four white socks also hails from the female family of MSW & MGISP Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful). B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)
Sunday, January 31, 2021
1st-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($93k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
TAPITAIL (f, 3, Tapit–Lady of Fifty, by After Market) went favored in each of her two starts last season going a mile on the Tokyo dirt, finishing fourth in the slop Oct. 10 before improving a couple of spots when last seen over a dry strip Nov. 29. The colt's dam, a Grade I winner on the main track, was acquired privately in 2017 and foaled this filly the following January before being exported. Her 2020 produce is a Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt that fetched ¥36 million ($335,538) as a foal at last year's JRHA Select Sale. B-Teruya Yoshida (KY)
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