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 Sunday running at Fukushima and Hanshin Racecourses. The latter plays host to a high-class renewal of the G1 Mile Championship, which has attracted dual Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed American-bred mare Lotus Land (Point of Entry):
Sunday, November 20, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
AIR METEORA (c, 2, Goldencents–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) is the latest to make the races for Nokaze, the dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Air Almas (Majestic Warrior)–an open allowance winner over the local dirt just last weekend–and SW Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), as well as Air Sage (Point of Entry) and Air Anemoi (Point of Entry), each of whom were debut winners going 10 furlongs on turf. Nokaze is a half-sister to the stakes-winning Yuzuru (Medaglia d'Oro), whose 3-year-old daughter Yuugiri (Shackleford) took this year's GIII Fantasy S. en route to an appearance in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Air Lolonois (Jpn) is set to represent breeder Tsunebumi Yoshihara in the Mile Championship. B-Sekie & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY)
6th-FKS, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m
PULCHRITUDE (JPN) (f, 2, Gun Runner–Global Beauty {Arg}, by Global Hunter) carried the green-and-white hoops of Carrot Farm for this debut and is out of a Group 1-winning mare in Argentina who was acquired privately and put in foal to this leading sire prior to her export to Japan. Among Gun Runner's three Japanese winners from five to race to date is the US-conceived, but Japanese-foaled 3-year-old filly Dreyse (Jpn), who also hails from Argentinian bloodlines. Pulchritude is the 2-1 favorite overnight. B-Northern Racing
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