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 Hakodate Racecourses:
Saturday, July 8, 2023
3rd-CKO, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
CUPIDON (c, 3, American Pharoah–Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee), a half-brother to the versatile MGSW & GISP Airoforce (Colonel John), finished midfield in two tries over this distance at Hanshin last year and made his seasonal return with a runner-up effort in a 1400-meter allowance at Urawa on the NAR circuit June 1. A $300,000 purchase by Kokhi Maeda out of the 2021 Keeneland September sale, the gray would become a 31st Japanese winner for his Triple Crown-winning sire. Springhouse Farm acquired the multiple stakes-placed Chocolate Pop in foal to Bernardini for $460,000 at Keeneland January in 2017. B-Camas Park Stud & Lynch Bages Ltd (KY)
Sunday, July 9, 2023
1st-HAK, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 2yo, 1000m
BUSHIN (c, 2, Into Mischief–Flawless, by Mr. Greeley), the full-brother to Horse of the Year Authentic, switches to a minimum trip on the dirt for this third go, having finished a debut third at a mile on the grass June 3 and second over six furlongs at this venue June 24 (see below, SC 8). Flawless was offered with this colt in utero at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale days after Authentic's championships-clinching victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, but was retained by Peter Blum after bidding reached $4.1 million. Bushin fetched $800,000 at Keeneland September last fall and the mare has since foaled a pair of Into Mischief fillies for Blum. B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds LLC (KY)
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