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 Chukyo and Tokyo Racecourses, including the first career start for an immaculately bred son of Tapit who goes out for one of that sire's biggest Japanese-based supporters:
Saturday, June 12, 2021
1st-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
DANON PULSE (JPN) (c, 3, Malibu Moon–Curlin Hawk, by Curlin) was acquired for $800K in utero at Keeneland November in 2017 a little more than a month after the dam's foal of 2015, Seabhac (Scat Daddy), won the GIII Pilgrim S. on the turf at Belmont Park. Unplaced in a single racetrack appearance, Curlin Hawk–herself a $500K KEESEP yearling–is a half-sister to champion and multiple Classic winner Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) and to his SW & MGSP full-brother Unforgettable Max. B-Shimokobe Farm
3rd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
Darby Dan's overachieving Dialed In is represented by his first Japanese starter in the form of North Hills Co. Ltd.'s NIL ADMIRARI (c, 3, –Into Reality, by Untuttable). A half-brother to the stakes-winning Meadowood (Harlan's Holiday), the March-foaled bay cost $30K at KEENOV in 2018 before maturing into a $130K purchase at the Fasig-Tipton July sale the next summer. One of only five horses to go a quarter-mile in :20 3/5 (bullet was :20 2/5 for American Pharoah's Kyoto debut-winning daughter Russian Samovar), Nil Admirari was hammered down for $275K at last year's OBS March Sale, making him the most expensive colt from that crop. B-Scott Dilworth (KY)
7th-TOK, ¥14,360,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600m
ALIENOR (JPN) (f, 3, Nyquist–Land Over Sea, by Bellamy Road) was well-beaten trying the local turf course on her career debut last November, but she shaped as a different proposition altogether when switching to the dirt at Niigata Apr. 18, running out a five-length winner. Her dam, a half-sister to the hard-knocking MGSW $3.2-million winner War Story (Northern Afleet), won the 2016 GII TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks and was runner-up in that year's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks before selling for $1.3 million with this filly in utero at FTKNOV in 2017. B-Shadai Farm
Sunday, June 13, 2021
5th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
FIFTY CHEVY (c, 2, Tapit–Stopchargingmaria, by Tale of the Cat) attracted a final bid of $825K from Yuji Hasegawa last fall, the same owner who gave $1.5 million for Vanishing Point, a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella, at the same auction 12 months prior. Winner of the 2014 GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. for owner Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria was a $3.15-million buyback at that year's FTKNOV sale before being purchased privately by Louise and Kiki Courtelis' Town and Country Farms. Upset winner of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, the mare remained in training through her 5-year-old season and was knocked down to Three Chimneys for $2.8 million at FTKNOV in 2016. She was most recently acquired by Whisper Hill Farm for $4.4 million with this foal in utero at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. Three-year-old filly Stillchargingmaria (Pioneerof the Nile), a $1.9m graduate of FTKNOV and her dam's first produce, won her maiden at Lone Star Park this past April. Coincidentally, Vanishing Point is entered for a Saturday allowance at headquarters. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC & Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)
注目の新馬 #フィフティシェビー
日曜東京の芝1800メートルにルメール騎手でエントリー#競馬 pic.twitter.com/EHQ96DFkt6
— 東スポ競馬 (@tospo_keiba) June 10, 2021
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