US-Bred Juveniles Aim For Group Glory in Japan

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 Sapporo Racecourses:

Saturday, August 31, 2024
6th-CKO, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
YUTO THE YUTO (c, 2, Preservationist–Officer Leah, by Officer) is set to become the first Japanese starter for his young sire, who has accounted for 41 winners from his first two crops, including this year's GIII Peter Pan Stakes hero Antiquarian and five juvenile scorers from 10 starters in 2024. Hailing from the family of MSW Spanish Glitter (Glitterman), Yuto the Yuto is a three-time OBS graduate, having first sold for $15,000 at OBS January, for $30,000 at the auction house's October Yearling Sale and for $80,000 after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 (see below) at OBS March this spring. Leading jockey Yuga Kawada sees fit to ride. B-Bruno F De Julio & Ed Barker (KY)

11th-SAP, Sapporo Nisai S.-G3, ¥59.2m ($407k), 2yo, 1800mT
MATENRO SON (c, 2, Into Mischief–Miss Panthere {Jpn}), by Daiwa Major {Jpn}) hesitated at the break of his Aug. 11 unveiling over this course and distance and was forced to sit a wide, no-cover trip from well off the speed, but overcame it all to graduate by four lengths (see below, SC 9). With that victory, the homebred became the first winner for his dam, thrice successful at group level in Japan and whose subsequent produce include two progeny of Horses of the Year–a yearling colt by Authentic and a filly foal by Flightline. B-Chiyono Terada (KY)

Sunday, September 1, 2024
11th-CKO, Kokura Nisai S.-G3, ¥59.2m ($407k), 2yo, 1200mT
JASPER DIVINE (c, 2, Frosted–Rocket Reload, by Reload) cost owner Kazuo Kato $255,000 at this year's OBS March Sale, and the colt made an immediate down payment on that investment when wiring a 1400-meter event for newcomers at Niigata on July 27 (see below, SC 1). These are the same connections as fellow OBS purchase Jasper Krone (Frosted), who won back-to-back Group 3 contests over this track and trip just last summer. B-Denny Andrews (KY)