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 Fukushima Racecourses:
Saturday, April 20, 2024
6th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($96k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
ASSURBANIPAL (c, 3, Arrogate–Georgie's Angel, by Bellamy Road) makes a much-anticipated return to the races, having graduated at first asking over this course and distance back in November (see below, SC 12). A full-brother to two-time Grade I-winning juvenile Cave Rock, the Apr. 17 foal topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale on Champion Equine's bid of $700,000 and was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.05 million at last year's OBS March Sale. Longford Farm acquired Grade III winner Georgie's Angel for $75,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. B-Kathleen Schweizer (NY)
Sunday, April 21, 2024
3rd-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1700m
G T ROSSO (f, 3, Curlin–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper), a $525,000 purchase by JS Company out of the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, is a half-sister to Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti)–who has had a fair bit of success at stud in Japan–and to Sui (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $300,000 KEESEP yearling and $675,000 OBS March breezer who was a two-time winner in Japan and produced an Orfevre (Jpn) filly for her first foal in 2023. Eltimaas, a half-sister to champion juvenile Action This Day (Kris S.), was acquired by Machmer Hall for $77,000 in foal to Mizzen Mast at Keeneland November in 2013. B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)
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