By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Niigata and Kokura Racecourses:
Saturday, August 20, 2022
5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
SANTA ANA TESORO (JPN) (f, 2, Speightstown–January Jones {Brz}, by Shirocco {Ger}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for his dam, winner at home of the G1 Henrique Possollo who produced this filly's older full-siblings Perseus Tesoro and Walker Tesoro, each a winner following their export to Japan. Speightstown is the sire to date of 37 winners from 44 runners, including owner Kenji Ryotokuji's MSW & G1SP Rieno Tesoro and additional winners Detroit Tesoro and Nilkanta Tesoro (Jpn). B-Ryoken Farm
8th-KOK, ¥14,670,000 ($108k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m
CUTE VILLAIN (f, 3, Arrogate–She Be Wild, by Offlee Wild) was a highly impressive seven-length debut winner this past January (see below, SC 10) and was unplaced in two subsequent tries against winners before bouncing back with a close third-place effort July 31. The $550K Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream purchase stretches out to a route of ground for the first time and is an obvious candidate to appreciate the extra distance, as her dam was the 2009 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly following her victory in that year's Breeders' Cup. B-Nancy Mazzoni (KY)
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